Journal of integrative neuroscience最新文献

{"title":"Exosomal miR-432-5p, miR-4433b-5p, and miR-599: Biomarkers for Monitoring the Severity of Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Encephalitis.","authors":"Zhuxiao Xie, Lei Liu, Yanjun Guo, Hanqiu Jiang, Lin Li, Zhixin Qiao, Jiawei Wang","doi":"10.31083/JIN37513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/JIN37513","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a rare disease with a high disability rate, characterized by acute-to-subacute psychiatric and/or neurological symptoms. Continuous intrathecal antibody synthesis does not correlate with the active phase of encephalitis and antibody titers do not directly reflect the severity of the condition. Currently, there is a lack of biomarkers for disease monitoring. This study focuses on finding novel peripheral blood biomarkers that can accurately monitor the severity of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Peripheral blood samples were collected from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, including those with acute-phase (autoimmune encephalitis (AE)-a group) and stable-phase (AE-s group) autoimmune encephalitis. Healthy individuals were included as controls (HC group). We isolated exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) from the samples and screened differentially expressed miRNAs through next-generation sequencing. The sequencing results were validated using quantitative real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR). Furthermore, we conducted a correlation analysis between the expression levels of the screened miRNAs and clinical severity. Finally, we performed functional pathway analysis to explore the underlying mechanisms in anti-NMDAR encephalitis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that exosomal miR-432-5p, miR-4433b-5p, and miR-599 exhibited significant differences between patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and healthy controls, as well as at various phases of the disease. The expression of miR-432-5p and miR-4433b-5p were negatively correlated with clinical severity. We further identified that key pathways including rhythmic processes and glutamatergic signaling play significant roles in the pathogenesis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our research indicated that exosomal miR-432-5p, miR-4433b-5p, and miR-599 were correlated with the severity of anti-NMDAR encephalitis and can serve as potential biomarkers for disease monitoring. Moreover, the key functional pathways predicted by these miRNAs may play crucial roles in disease progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":16160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of integrative neuroscience","volume":"24 5","pages":"37513"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Review of Treatment Modalities for Comorbid Neuropathic Pain and Depression.","authors":"Zhusheng Chen, Tong Cheng, Haorui Yang, Yongtao Gao, Xiaqing Ma","doi":"10.31083/JIN26523","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/JIN26523","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the past years, a number of clinical and preclinical investigations have been documented, suggesting treatment strategies and pharmaceuticals for neuropathic pain and depressive disorders, potentially beneficial in cases where these conditions are comorbid. This review lists these potential treatment options and discusses the proposed underlying mechanisms of action and their limitations, in terms of both physiotherapy and pharmacotherapy. Physiotherapy includes electroacupuncture and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, both of which affect neuronal function by altering the physiological state of the neurons. Pharmacological treatments include tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, ketamine, minocycline, and Chinese medicine, which alter ion channel activity, affect neurotransmitter release, and exert anti-inflammatory effects. As such, this review may help to improve future research endeavors and therapeutic options for this frequently occurring comorbidity.</p>","PeriodicalId":16160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of integrative neuroscience","volume":"24 5","pages":"26523"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neuroprotective Effect of PBCA Nanoparticles Delivering pEGFP-BDNF in a Mouse Model of Intracerebral Hemorrhage.","authors":"Xue Lai, Yu Xiong, Xing Guo, Chunbo Chen","doi":"10.31083/JIN26971","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/JIN26971","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Polybutylcyanoacrylate (PBCA) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by emulsion polymerization and loaded with an enhanced green fluorescent protein plasmid (pEGFP) encoding human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This study investigated the potential effects of PBCA-pEGFP-BDNF NPs for the treatment of experimental cerebral hemorrhage mouse model animals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eight-week-old male mice (30 ± 5 g) were randomly divided into four groups (sham, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), ICH+PBCA NPs, and ICH+ PBCA-pEGFP-BDNF NPs; n = 14). An ICH model was constructed by right striatum injection of bacterial collagenase VII. Neurological function was evaluated by modified Garcia score after treatment of ICH mice with PBCA-pEGFP-BDNF NPs. The area of cerebral hematoma was measured and the water content of brain tissues was calculated by the wet/dry ratio method. Finally, immunofluorescence staining was used to detect neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN) positive cells around hematomas. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and western blot were used to detect inflammatory BDNF, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and either interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) mRNA or protein levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Treatment with PBCA-pEGFP-BDNF NPs significantly improved neurological function and reduced acute brain edema and neuroinflammation in the mouse model of ICH. qPCR, ELISA, and western blot results showed that PBCA-pEGFP-BDNF NPs increased BDNF expression, inhibited NF-κB signaling pathway activity, and decreased the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) when compared with the recombinant plasmid pEGFP-BDNF.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PBCA-pEGFP-BDNF NPs improves neurological function in experimental ICH mice at least in part related to increased BDNF expression and decreased p65 NF-κB signaling axis activation, suggesting that PBCA NPs might be a suitable pEGFP-BDNF-carrying delivery system for ICH treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":16160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of integrative neuroscience","volume":"24 5","pages":"26971"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vertical Elevation as a Key Factor for the Neural Distinction of Target Selection and Distractor Suppression in Visual Search.","authors":"Yanzhang Chen, Paola Sessa, Sabrina Brigadoi, Alberto Petrin, Suiping Wang, Roberto Dell'Acqua","doi":"10.31083/JIN36513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/JIN36513","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Directing attention to relevant visual objects while ignoring distracting stimuli is crucial for effective perception and goal-directed behavior. Event-related potential (ERP) studies using the additional-singleton paradigm have provided valuable insights into how the human brain processes competing salient stimuli by monitoring N2pc and P_D, two event-related components thought to reflect target selection and distractor suppression, respectively. However, whether these components reflect the activity of a single or distinct neural mechanism remains controversial. Herein, we investigated the neural substrate of N2pc and P_D by manipulating the vertical elevation of target and distractor relative to the visual horizontal meridian using two variants of the additional-singleton paradigm.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In Experiment 1, participants searched for a shape singleton and identified the orientation of an embedded tilted bar while ignoring a color singleton. In Experiment 2, the tilted bars were removed and participants performed a shape search while ignoring a color singleton. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings at posterior sites (PO7/8) measured N2pc and P_D components. Reaction times and ERP amplitudes were analyzed across conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results of both Experiments 1 and 2 showed that N2pc and P_D responded in opposite ways to the manipulation of vertical elevation. N2pc was robust for targets in the lower visual hemifield and reversed in polarity (i.e., post-N2pc positivity ) for targets in the upper visual hemifield. Conversely, P_D was more pronounced for distractors in the upper visual hemifield and nil for those in the lower visual hemifield. Critically, vertical elevation did not influence psychophysical estimates of search efficiency in either experiment, suggesting that the relationship between these components and their functional significance is less straightforward than previously thought.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results provide empirical support for the idea that N2pc and P_D are influenced by the retinotopic organization of the visual cortex in a manner consistent with the neural and functional dissociation of target selection and distractor suppression in visual search.</p>","PeriodicalId":16160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of integrative neuroscience","volume":"24 5","pages":"36513"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations among IL-6 Signaling Molecules in Treg Populations in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.","authors":"Magdalena Kierasińska, Maja Machcińska, Marta Maruszewska-Cheruiyot, Ludmiła Szewczak, Anna Karlińska, Rafał Rola, Michael Stear, Katarzyna Donskow-Łysoniewska","doi":"10.31083/JIN36207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/JIN36207","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Peripheral immune cells participate in the pathogenesis and progression of central nervous system diseases including relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), which is an immune-mediated demyelinating disorder. The association between IL-6 and RRMS pathogenesis is clear but there is some uncertainty about the role of IL-6 and IL-6 pathway components in blood and the molecular mechanisms through which T regulatorys (Tregs) contribute to MS pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to identify markers of IL-6 pathways in serum and regulatory CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells in the blood of RRMS patients and to analyze their associations with multiple sclerosis, with each other, and with age.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Peripheral blood was collected from female RRMS patients (16), and healthy controls (18) recruited between December, 2019 and July, 2022. The serum levels of IL-6, TGF-β1, IL-6Rα, IL-6/IL-6Rα complex, and soluble glycoprotein-130 (sgp-130) were measured by ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the surface expression of IL-6R (CD126), membrane glycoprotein 130 (gp130, CD130), and phospho-STAT3 (pSTAT3) and pSTAT5 in CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺, CD8⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺, and CD8⁺CD122⁺ Tregs. Differences were compared using the Student's <i>t</i>-test or Welch's <i>t</i>-test. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to detect correlations. A <i>p</i>-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CD8⁺CD122⁺ Treg subset in RRMS patients exhibited an increased level of surface CD126 and CD130 associated with classical IL-6R signaling without STAT3 phosphorylation. For CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ and CD8⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs, no changes in classical IL-6R surface markers were observed in RRMS, but there was an increased percentage of pSTAT3 in these cells. Age-related changes in pSTAT5 expression across Treg subsets in healthy controls were absent in RRMS patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings underscore the complex interplay between IL-6 signaling and Tregs as well as age-related immune regulation. The observed alterations in the expression of receptors and in signaling activity may contribute to the dysregulation of CD8⁺CD122⁺ Treg function activated via the classic IL-6 pathway and suggests IL-6 trans-signaling in CD25-positive Tregs. RRMS may interfere with normal immune aging patterns, possibly by promoting a sustained inflammatory state that overrides the senescence of Tregs.</p>","PeriodicalId":16160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of integrative neuroscience","volume":"24 5","pages":"36207"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Rat Model of Hyperoxia-Induced White Matter Injury.","authors":"Yue Song, Ting Zhang, Hua Wang","doi":"10.31083/JIN36216","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/JIN36216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Preterm infants are commonly exposed to hyperoxia, which can induce hyperoxia-induced white matter injury (WMI), commonly resulting in cognitive deficits. Existing neonatal rat models of WMI show significant variability. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a reliable rat model of hyperoxia-induced WMI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Two-day-old male newborn rats were randomly assigned to either the hyperoxia (HO) or the normoxia (NO) group. Mice in the HO group were exposed to a high-oxygen-inspired fraction (0.80) for either 24 h, 48 h, 5 d, 7 d, or 10 d, while the NO group was exposed to the standard oxygen-inspired fraction (0.21). Histological examination, immunofluorescence staining, western blot analysis, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to observe myelinogenesis. The Morris water maze test was used to assess cognitive function. The proliferation, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis of oligodendrocytes in the corpus callosum (CC) were evaluated using immunofluorescence. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) were quantified to evaluate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses within the cerebral tissue.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Following hyperoxic exposure, demyelination and poor performance in the Morris water maze test were observed in the HO group, notably within the 5 d subgroup (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In addition, compared with the NO group, there were significant oligodendrocyte apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses in ROS, MDA, IL-1β, TNF-α, GFAP, and Iba-1 within the cerebral tissue of the HO group. The numbers of Ki67⁺/oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2)⁺ and Vimentin⁺/Olig2⁺ cells in the NO and HO groups were not significantly different (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Compared with the NO group, the average fluorescence intensity of Nerve-glia antigen 2 (NG2) and oligodendrocyte-specific marker 4 (O4) in the CC of the HO group increased, whereas the number of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CC1) -positive cells significantly decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Hyperoxia causes WMI in neonatal rat brains. Exposure of neonatal rats to 80% oxygen for 5 d induces a reliable animal model of hyperoxia-induced WMI. Aberrant differentiation and apoptosis of oligodendrocytes might be the reason for hyperoxia-induced WMI.</p>","PeriodicalId":16160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of integrative neuroscience","volume":"24 5","pages":"36216"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual Task Interference in Young, Middle-Age and Older Adults During Different Functional Mobility Tasks: A Cross Sectional Study.","authors":"Tamara R L P Tolotti, Ana Paula O Barbosa, João Vítor E H Szortyka, Adriana T de Lemos, Felipe de S Stigger","doi":"10.31083/JIN33416","DOIUrl":"10.31083/JIN33416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Functional mobility, which encompasses movements required for everyday activities, involves the ability to perform two tasks simultaneously, a concept known as dual-tasking (DT). The impact of interference between these tasks is observed by comparing the performance of a single task with that of the same task when associated with a second task, known as the dual-task effect (DTE). The decline in these functions due to aging and the associated increase in DTE might impair basic functions involving mobility, consequently increasing the risk of falls. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the DTE in functional mobility tasks across young, middle-aged, and older adults and to examine how different types of secondary tasks affect DT performance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This laboratory-based cross-sectional observational study involved forty-four young adults (32.5 ± 6.9 years), thirty-five middle-aged adults (54.6 ± 6.3 years), and twenty-eight older adults (73.9 ± 7.0 years). DT conditions included performing three functional mobility tasks (the 3-meter Walking Test, Figure-8 Walk, and Four Square Step Test) alone and simultaneously with four different secondary tasks [Coin Transference (CTT), Stroop Color Word (SCWT), Digit Span (DST), and Semantic Verbal Fluency (SVFT) tasks]. The time taken to complete the mobility tasks was measured, while performance on secondary tasks was assessed based on the CTT rate, number of errors (SCWT and DST), and rate of recalled words (SVFT). The DTE was calculated, and patterns of dual-task cost were analyzed across all task conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Decreases in functional mobility performance during dual-task performance were observed across all experimental groups. Older adults took longer to perform complex tasks involving turning and anterior/lateral/posterior displacements during dual-task conditions compared to young and middle-aged adults. The CTT and SCWT caused a high level of interference under dual-task conditions, while the SVFT and DST induced reduced impairments in functional mobility tasks. Most dual-task conditions led to \"mutual interference\", where participants performed worse on both the primary and secondary tasks in the dual-task conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>All primary functional mobility tasks experienced interference under dual-task conditions. The relationship between dual motor and cognitive tasks may depend on the difficulty level presented to a given population. This study highlights the importance of understanding dual-task interference to develop targeted interventions for reducing fall risk, especially in older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":16160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of integrative neuroscience","volume":"24 5","pages":"33416"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of the Ganglion Cell Layer as an OCT Biomarker in Neurodegenerative Diseases.","authors":"Francesco Ruggeri, Daniele Fumi, Lorena Bassis, Mariachiara Di Pippo, Solmaz Abdolrahimzadeh","doi":"10.31083/JIN26039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/JIN26039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique in the field of ophthalmology that has been increasingly recognized for its capability to identify potential biomarkers in neurodegenerative processes. While the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) has been vastly explored, this review focuses on the ganglion cell layer (GCL), highlighting its relevance and potential advantages in the diagnostic approach and monitoring of neurodegenerative conditions. In the present review we explore the role of GCL changes detected by OCT in Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). We focus on these conditions due to their prevalence and substantial social impact among neurodegenerative diseases. We summarize key findings on the changes in the GCL and their correlations with disease progression and severity. Moreover, we highlight GCL measurements in the context of a multidisciplinary diagnostic approach, and their potential in adapting tailored therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative disease management. Challenges such as methodological variability in OCT measurements, automatic instrumental output parameters, the limitations of GCL as a standalone diagnostic tool, and the impact of systemic and ocular factors are discussed. Finally, we propose that forthcoming advancements in OCT technology, integration with other biomarkers, and longitudinal studies will likely further enhance the understanding of GCL changes over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":16160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of integrative neuroscience","volume":"24 5","pages":"26039"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Virtual Reality-based Interventions on Depression, Anxiety, and Abilities of Daily Living in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.","authors":"Huanhuan Li, Lu Zhou, Gao Liu, Lei Wang, Qingwei Zhao, Shaohong Xu, Enli Cai","doi":"10.31083/JIN27142","DOIUrl":"10.31083/JIN27142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stroke survivors often experience varying levels of psychological stress, depression, and anxiety, which can exacerbate their physical impairments and adversely affect their recovery process. Virtual reality (VR) technology has been proven to be effective for patients with depression, garnering significant interest from researchers focused on stroke rehabilitation. However, the precise impact of VR on stroke-related psychology remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to appraise the effect of VR on depression, anxiety, and the abilities of daily living in stroke survivors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The research involved a search of six electronic databases, including the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, from the inception of the databases to June 2, 2024. Two investigators independently screened the databases based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data from the included studies, and tested their methodological quality using Cochrane's risk of bias tool. The intervention effect was estimated using Review Manager 5.4 to calculate the standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This review identified 16 studies out of the 4439 records retrieved, consisting of a total of 756 stroke patients. Post-intervention analysis provided low certainty evidence that VR training reduced depression (SMD = -0.47; 95% CI: -0.88, -0.05, <i>p</i> = 0.03), but there was no significant effect on anxiety (SMD = -0.25; 95% CI: -0.53, 0.03, <i>p</i> = 0.08) and activities of daily living (SMD = 0.34; 95% CI: -0.05, 0.73, <i>p</i> = 0.09). Subgroup analysis indicated that participants under 60 years old who received VR intervention had a significant reduction in depression scores (SMD = -1.13; 95% CI: -1.89, -0.37, <i>p</i> = 0.004) compared with the control group. Those with moderate depression (SMD = -1.02; 95% CI = -1.96 to -0.07, <i>p</i> = 0.04) and intervention that lasted more than 6 weeks (SMD = -1.16; 95% CI: -1.87, -0.44, <i>p</i> = 0.002) also showed lower scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Due to heterogeneity concerns and the poor quality of included studies, our meta-analysis that provided evidence with very low certainty indicates that VR technology may be a beneficial approach for improving the psychological health issues faced by stroke survivors, helping to reduce their depression, but has no significant effect on reducing anxiety and improving their activities of daily life. However, additional comprehensive research is required to reinforce these conclusions. Specifically, future research needs to involve larger scale and more rigorous approaches, utilizing tailored VR interventions to further improve patient well-being. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42024575981, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024575981.</p>","PeriodicalId":16160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of integrative neuroscience","volume":"24 5","pages":"27142"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Executive Dysfunction and Prefrontal Cortex Dysregulation in Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease: An fNIRS Study.","authors":"Haiyang Wang, Zhanhua Liang, Zhongrui Yan, Yiming Liu","doi":"10.31083/JIN36989","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31083/JIN36989","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Executive function (EF) impairment is a recognized common cognitive deficit in early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD), profoundly impacting patient autonomy and quality of life. While EF-related cognitive decline has been extensively studied in late-onset Parkinson's disease (LOPD), research on EOPD remains limited. Addressing this gap, this study uniquely employed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a technique well-adapted for assessing patients with motor challenges, to explore EF-related neural mechanisms in EOPD patients with mild cognitive impairment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included 30 patients with PD, classified into distinct cognitive profiles based on comprehensive assessments of their cognitive function. To assess functional changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) we administered a verbal fluency test to evaluate EF during task performance. In the resting state, we recorded neural activity and analyzed the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) to assess spontaneous brain activity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During executive tasks, patients with EF-dominant impairment (EOPD-EL) showed increased activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), indicating disrupted balance between the executive and default mode networks. Resting-state analysis revealed reduced spontaneous activity in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), suggesting impaired regulatory efficiency in these regions. These findings support the dual syndrome hypothesis in EOPD, with EF dysfunction as a primary deficit that may lead to secondary cognitive challenges.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study underscores the central role of PFC dysfunction in EOPD-related EF impairment, identifying abnormalities in the DLPFC, mPFC, and VLPFC as key contributors to cognitive decline. These results lay the groundwork for early detection of EF deficits and inform targeted interventions to mitigate cognitive decline in EOPD.</p>","PeriodicalId":16160,"journal":{"name":"Journal of integrative neuroscience","volume":"24 5","pages":"36989"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144216055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}