Neurofeedback (NF) technology based on electroencephalogram (EEG) data or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been widely studied and applied. In contrast, functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has become a new technique in NF research in recent years. fNIRS is a neuroimaging technology based on hemodynamics, which has the advantages of low cost, good portability and high spatial resolution, and is more suitable for use in natural environments. At present, there is a lack of comprehensive review on fNIRS-NF technology (fNIRS-NF) in China. In order to provide a reference for the research of fNIRS-NF technology, this paper first describes the principle, key technologies and applications of fNIRS-NF, and focuses on the application of fNIRS-NF. Finally, the future development trend of fNIRS-NF is prospected and summarized. In conclusion, this paper summarizes fNIRS-NF technology and its application, and concludes that fNIRS-NF technology has potential practicability in neurological diseases and related fields. fNIRS can be used as a good method for NF training. This paper is expected to provide reference information for the development of fNIRS-NF technology.
Control at beyond-visual ranges is of great significance to animal-robots with wide range motion capability. For pigeon-robots, such control can be done by the way of onboard preprogram, but not constitute a closed-loop yet. This study designed a new control system for pigeon-robots, which integrated the function of trajectory monitoring to that of brain stimulation. It achieved the closed-loop control in turning or circling by estimating pigeons’ flight state instantaneously and the corresponding logical regulation. The stimulation targets located at the formation reticularis medialis mesencephali (FRM) in the left and right brain, for the purposes of left- and right-turn control, respectively. The stimulus was characterized by the waveform mimicking the nerve cell membrane potential, and was activated intermittently. The wearable control unit weighted 11.8 g totally. The results showed a 90% success rate by the closed-loop control in pigeon-robots. It was convenient to obtain the wing shape during flight maneuver, by equipping a pigeon-robot with a vivo camera. It was also feasible to regulate the evolution of pigeon flocks by the pigeon-robots at different hierarchical level. All of these lay the groundwork for the application of pigeon-robots in scientific researches.
ObjectiveTo explore the relevance of the ratio of pulmonary arterial diameter to aortic diameter exceeding one (PA:A>1) with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and inflammatory factor levels in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).
MethodsFrom August 2013 to December 2013,95 inpatients with AECOPD in West China Hospital were divided into two groups according to the ratio of pulmonary arterial diameter to aortic diameter. The clinical data of the patients were collected. Meanwhile,arterial blood gas,plasma levels of BNP,C-reactive protein (CRP),and interleukin-6 (IL-6) within 24 hours were measured.
ResultsThe plasma BNP level was 2005(483-4582)ng/L in the group with PA:A>1,and 404(137-1224)ng/L in the group with PA:A<1. There was significant difference in plasma BNP level between two groups (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in CRP or IL-6 level between two groups (P>0.05).
ConclusionThe ratio of pulmonary arterial diameter to aortic diameter is correlated with BNP level in patients with AECOPD,but is not correlated with CRP or IL-6.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of the median nerve constrictive operation combined with tendon transfer to treat the brain paralysis convulsive deformity of the hand.
MethodsThe clinical data from 21 cases with brain paralysis convulsive deformity of the hand were analyzed retrospectively between August 2009 and April 2012. Of them, there were 13 males and 8 females with an average age of 15 years (range, 10-29 years). The causes of the convulsive cerebral palsy included preterm deliveries in 11 cases, hypoxia asphyxia in 7, traumatic brain injury in 2, and encephalitis sequela in 1. The disease duration was 2-26 years (mean, 10.6 years). All the 21 patients had cock waists, crooking fingers, and contracture of adductors pollicis, 12 had the forearm pronation deformity. According to Ashworth criteria, there were 2 cases at level Ⅰ, 5 cases at level Ⅱ, 8 cases at level Ⅲ, 4 cases at level IV, and 2 cases at level V. All patients had no intelligence disturbances. The forearm X-ray film showed no bone architectural changes before operation. The contraction of muscle and innervation was analyzed before operation. The median nerve constrictive operation combined with tendon transfer was performed. The functional activities and deformity improvement were evaluated during follow-up.
ResultsAfter operation, all the patients' incision healed by first intension, without muscle atrophy and ischemic spasm. All the 21 cases were followed up 1.5-4.5 years (mean, 2.3 years). No superficial sensory loss occurred. The effectiveness was excellent in 13 cases, good in 6 cases, and poor in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 90.4% at last follow-up.
ConclusionThe median nerve constrictive operation combined with tendon transfer to treat brain paralysis convulsive deformity of the hand can remove and prevent the recurrence of spasm, achieve the orthopedic goals, to assure the restoration of motor function and the improvement of the life quality.
The effective classification of multi-task motor imagery electroencephalogram (EEG) is helpful to achieve accurate multi-dimensional human-computer interaction, and the high frequency domain specificity between subjects can improve the classification accuracy and robustness. Therefore, this paper proposed a multi-task EEG signal classification method based on adaptive time-frequency common spatial pattern (CSP) combined with convolutional neural network (CNN). The characteristics of subjects' personalized rhythm were extracted by adaptive spectrum awareness, and the spatial characteristics were calculated by using the one-versus-rest CSP, and then the composite time-domain characteristics were characterized to construct the spatial-temporal frequency multi-level fusion features. Finally, the CNN was used to perform high-precision and high-robust four-task classification. The algorithm in this paper was verified by the self-test dataset containing 10 subjects (33 ± 3 years old, inexperienced) and the dataset of the 4th 2018 Brain-Computer Interface Competition (BCI competition Ⅳ-2a). The average accuracy of the proposed algorithm for the four-task classification reached 93.96% and 84.04%, respectively. Compared with other advanced algorithms, the average classification accuracy of the proposed algorithm was significantly improved, and the accuracy range error between subjects was significantly reduced in the public dataset. The results show that the proposed algorithm has good performance in multi-task classification, and can effectively improve the classification accuracy and robustness.
Objectives
To detect expressions of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) , and to estimate the post-injury interval after concussion of brain via the ratios of percentage of HSP70/GFAP-positive cells.
Methods
We established a brain concussion model of rat. Tissue levels of HSP70 and GFAP were determined by immunohistochemical staining at different time points after injury. Finally, the relationship between the ratio of percentage of HSP70/GFAP-positive cells and the post-injury interval was measured.
Results
The ratio of percentage of positive cells (increased from 7.15 to 11.73) and the percentage of HSP70-positive cells (P<0.05, compared with control group) increased, and the percentage of GFAP-positive cells did not change remarkably (P<0.05, compared with control group); the post-injury interval was between 0.5 hour and 3 hours. High ratio (>6.66) and high percentage of HSP70 and GFAP-positive cells (P<0.05, compared with control group) indicated the post-injury interval was between 3 and 12 hours. A low ratio (<6.66) and high percentage of HSP70 and GFAP-positive cells (P<0.05, compared with control group) suggested that the post-injury interval was later than 12 hours.
Conclusion
By analyzing the variation rule of the ratio of percentage positive cells after brain concussion, the post-injury interval after concussion of brain could be estimated.
Currently, about one-third of patients with anti-epilepsy drug or resective surgery continue to have sezure, the mechanism remin unknown. Up to date, the main target for presurgical evaluation is to determene the EZ and SOZ. Since the early nineties of the last century network theory was introduct into neurology, provide new insights into understanding the onset, propagation and termination. Focal seizure can impact the function of whole brain, but the abnormal pattern is differet to generalized seizure. Brain network is a conception of mathematics. According to the epilepsy, network node and hub are related to the treatment. Graphy theory and connectivity are main algorithms. Understanding the mechanism of epilepsy deeply, since study the theory of epilepsy network, can improve the planning of surgery, resection epileptogenesis zone, seizure onset zone and abnormal node of hub simultaneously, increase the effect of resectiv surgery and predict the surgery outcome. Eventually, develop new drugs for correct the abnormal network and increase the effect. Nowadays, there are many algorithms for the brain network. Cooperative study by the clinicans and biophysicists instituted standard and extensively applied algorithms is the precondition of widely used clinically.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the monitoring value of brain injury biomarkers in the patients during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMbase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, and CBM from inception of each database to May 2015 to identify randomized controlled trials, or case-control trials, or cohort trials of brain injury biomarkers predict brain injury during ECMO. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 12.0 software.
ResultsFour retrospective trials were included. The results showed that compared with patients without brain injury, the patients with brain injury had a higher level of S100B protein (P < 0.05). The incidence of major neurological events was higher for high neuron-specific enolase level patients than mild-to-moderate neuron-specific enolase level patients (85% vs. 29%, P=0.01). The incidence of brain injury was higher for normal glial fibrillary acidic protein level than patients with glial fibrillary acidic protein > 0.436 ng/ml (OR=11.5, 95%CI 1.3-98.3).
ConclusionsBrain injury biomarkers may be used as an indicator for earlier diagnosis of brain injury in patients during ECMO.
As more and more issues have emerged in organ transplantion cases, there is an increasing dispute about the definition of death: whether the criteria of cardiopulmonary death or brain death should be applied. The conflict between rights and obligations in brain death and organ transplantion is becoming ever evident, and there is a need for clarity on the issue of death and organ transplantion. This needs to come through legislation, which would be the most economical and effective intervention to provide this clarity. The authors believe that the National People’s Congress of China (NPC), the Standing Committee of NPC, the State Council of China and the Supreme People’s Court of China may get involved in the legislation for issues related to brain death and organ transplantion. As for the selection of decrees related to brain death and organ transplantion, all provinces, autonomous regions and centrally-governed municipalities can not exercise corresponding local legislative power except for special economic zones. After brain death and organ transplant related laws, administrative regulations, local decrees, autonomous decrees and special decrees have been settled, relevant executive legislation may be enacted. During such a legislative procedure, pilot programs can be adopted so as to enhance the applicability and success rate of the legislation of brain death and organ transplant.
Brain-computer interaction (BCI) is a transformative human-computer interaction, which aims to bypass the peripheral nerve and muscle system and directly convert the perception, imagery or thinking activities of cranial nerves into actions for further improving the quality of human life. Magnetoencephalogram (MEG) measures the magnetic field generated by the electrical activity of neurons. It has the unique advantages of non-contact measurement, high temporal and spatial resolution, and convenient preparation. It is a new BCI driving signal. MEG-BCI research has important brain science significance and potential application value. So far, few documents have elaborated the key technical issues involved in MEG-BCI. Therefore, this paper focuses on the key technologies of MEG-BCI, and details the signal acquisition technology involved in the practical MEG-BCI system, the design of the MEG-BCI experimental paradigm, the MEG signal analysis and decoding key technology, MEG-BCI neurofeedback technology and its intelligent method. Finally, this paper also discusses the existing problems and future development trends of MEG-BCI. It is hoped that this paper will provide more useful ideas for MEG-BCI innovation research.
