Asymmetry Index Research Articles

Thalamic asymmetry in Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system. Asymmetry is one of the finding in brain MRI of these patients, which is related to the debilitating symptoms of the disease. This study aimed to investigate and compare the thalamic asymmetry in MS patients and its relationship with other MRI and clinical findings of these patients. This cross-sectional study conducted on 83 patients with relapse-remitting MS (RRMS), 43 patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and 89 healthy controls. The volumes of total intracranial, total gray matter, total white matter, lesions, thalamus, and also the thalamicasymmetry indices were calculated. The 9-hole peg test (9-HPT) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) were assessed as clinical findings. We showed that the normalized whole thalamic volume in healthy subjects was higher than MS patients (both RRMS and SPMS). Thalamic asymmetry index (TAI) was significantly different between RRMS patients and SPMS patients (p=0.011). The absolute value of TAI was significantly lower in healthy subjects than in RRMS (p < 0.001) and SPMS patients (p < 0.001), and SPMS patients had a higher absolute TAI compared to RRMS patients (p=0.037). In this cross-sectional study we showed a relationship between normalized whole thalamic volume and MS subtype. Also, we showed that the asymmetric indices of the thalamus can be related to the progression of the disease. Eventually, we showed that thalamic asymmetry can be related to the disease progression and subtype changes in MS.

Asymmetric response of gross primary productivity to precipitation changes over China’s karst areas

China’s karst areas play an important role in regulating the global carbon dynamic and mitigating atmospheric CO2 concentration. Yet, extreme drought events have occurred frequently in recent years over China’s karst areas, which have a negative effect on the gross primary productivity (GPP) in the region. It is unclear whether gross primary productivity gains in the wet years can compensate for its losses in the dry years over the karst areas. In this study, we selected the asymmetry indices to assess the potential asymmetric response of gross primary productivity to the change in precipitation over China’s karst areas during the 2003 to 2018 period, using the gross primary productivity and precipitation dataset. Our results show that the gross primary productivity exhibits a positive asymmetry in response to precipitation changes, namely, the gains caused by increased precipitation in the wet years overcompensate the losses caused by decreased precipitation in the dry years. In addition, the gross primary productivity asymmetry shows an increasing trend over the study period despite extreme drought events occurring frequently, which is due to the response of gross primary productivity to drought has significantly decreased over the study period. For each biome, grasslands show the highest positive gross primary productivity asymmetry, indicating that the grassland biomes have a stronger capacity to utilize the increased precipitation during the wet years to increase gross primary productivity compared to other biomes. Furthermore, the gross primary productivity asymmetry over China’s karst areas can be effected by the precipitation asymmetry as well as mean annual precipitation. Our results will contribute to our knowledge of the response of gross primary productivity to precipitation changes in the karst areas of China.

Estimating a two-year recurrence risk of ischemic stroke based on Essen Stroke Risk Score and retinal characteristics

Objectives: Prediction of recurrence risk after initial ischemic stroke helps improve patient outcomes. We estimated the validity of combining the Essen Stroke Risk Score (ESRS) with retinal characteristics to predict the two-year recurrent risk of ischemic stroke. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Patients with initial ischemic stroke were recruited. ESRS was measured, and fundus photographs were taken by trained physicians. All patients were followed up for 2 years to determine the outcome of recurrent stroke. Logistic models were built using ESRS alone and combined with ESRS and retinal characteristics. The prognostic value of recurrence risk was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The total recurrence rate of ischemic events within 2 years was 20%. The risk of recurrence was significantly higher in patients with an ESRS score of &gt;2. Regarding retinal characteristics, patients with recurrent stroke had a lower mean asymmetry index of venules (0.76 vs. 0.77, P=0.00) and bifurcation coefficient of venules (1.29 vs. 1.28, P=0.03) but a higher mean occlusion of arterioles (0.11 vs. 0.13, P=0.01). The area under the curve was 0.5985 based on the logistic regression model with ESRS alone to 0.7294 for the model with both ESRS and retinal characteristics. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration no. ChiCTR1800019648). Conclusion: A model combining ESRS with retinal characteristics can accurately predict the risk of recurrent stroke.

Learning by Heart or with Heart: Brain Asymmetry Reflects Pedagogical Practices.

Brain hemispheres develop rather symmetrically, except in the case of pathology or intense training. As school experience is a form of training, the current study tested the influence of pedagogy on morphological development through the cortical thickness (CTh) asymmetry index (AI). First, we compared the CTh AI of 111 students aged 4 to 18 with 77 adults aged > 20. Second, we investigated the CTh AI of the students as a function of schooling background (Montessori or traditional). At the whole-brain level, CTh AI was not different between the adult and student groups, even when controlling for age. However, pedagogical experience was found to impact CTh AI in the temporal lobe, within the parahippocampal (PHC) region. The PHC region has a functional lateralization, with the right PHC region having a stronger involvement in spatiotemporal context encoding, while the left PHC region is involved in semantic encoding. We observed CTh asymmetry toward the left PHC region for participants enrolled in Montessori schools and toward the right for participants enrolled in traditional schools. As these participants were matched on age, intelligence, home-life and socioeconomic conditions, we interpret this effect found in memory-related brain regions to reflect differences in learning strategies. Pedagogy modulates how new concepts are encoded, with possible long-term effects on knowledge transfer.

Three-dimensional assessment of facial asymmetry in class III subjects, part 2: evaluating asymmetry index and asymmetry scores.

To evaluate the outcomes of corrective surgical treatment for craniofacial asymmetry using four different methods with the aim of developing the best technique for craniofacial asymmetry assessment. CBCT images of twenty-one class III subjects with surgically corrected craniofacial asymmetry and twenty-one matched controls were analyzed. Twenty-seven hard tissue landmarks were used to quantify asymmetry using the following methodologies: the asymmetry index (AI), asymmetry scores based on the clinically derived midline (CM), Procrustes analysis (PA), and modified Procrustes analysis (MPA). Modified Procrustes analysis successfully identified pre-operative asymmetry and revealed severe asymmetry at the mandibular regions compared to controls, which was comparable to the asymmetry index and clinically derived midline methods, while Procrustes analysis masked the asymmetric characteristics. Likewise, when comparing the post-surgical outcomes, modified Procrustes analysis not only efficiently determined the changes evidencing decrease in facial asymmetry but also revealed significant residual asymmetry in the mandible, which was congruent with the asymmetry index and clinically derived midline methods but contradictory to the results shown by Procrustes analysis. In terms of quantifying cranio-facial asymmetry, modified Procrustes analysis has evidenced to produce promising results that were comparable to the asymmetry index and the clinically derived midline, making it a more viable option for craniofacial asymmetry assessment. Modified Procrustes analysis is proficient in evaluating cranio-facial asymmetry with more valid clinical representation and has potential applications in assessing asymmetry in a wide spectrum of patients, including syndromic patients.

Asymmetry of flow in aortic root and its application in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

The aortic root (AR) performs sophisticated functions regulating the blood dynamics during the cardiac cycle. Such complex function depends on the nature of flow in the AR. Here, we investigate the potential of new quantitative parameters of flow asymmetry that could have clinical implications. We developed a MATLAB program to study the AR hemodynamics in each sinus of Valsalva using two-dimensional (2-D) cardiac magnetic resonance imaging during systole and particularly at peak systolic flow in 13 healthy volunteers and compared with 10 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). We show that the effective area of the aortic jet in healthy volunteers is significantly higher at peak systolic flow and on average during systole. The flow asymmetry index, indicating how the jet is skewed away from the left coronary sinus (LCS), is small in healthy volunteers and much larger in HOCM at peak systole. The average of this index over systole is significantly more different between cohorts. Looking in more detail at the flow in the sinuses during systole, we show that the AR jet in healthy volunteers is more symmetrical, affecting the three sinuses almost equally, unlike the asymmetric AR jet in patients with HOCM that has decreased flow rate in the LCS and increased fractional area of backward flow in the LCS. The percentage of backward flow in the sinuses of Valsalva calculated over systole is a potential indicator of perturbed AR hemodynamics and the distribution of vortical flow and could be used as a measure of flow asymmetry.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The aortic root is a vital organ responsible for performing sophisticated functions to regulate the blood flow dynamics during the cardiac cycle. Such synchronized complex performance affects and is affected by the flow symmetry and type of flow reaching the aorta. Here, we report flow asymmetry in the aortic root which could have clinical implications, and we investigate the potential of various quantitative parameters as measures of flow asymmetry in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Comparison of masticatory myofunctional rehabilitation combined with conventional functional appliances for the treatment of class Ⅱ, division 1 malocclusion. A retrospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo estimate the clinical efficacy of early masticatory myofunction rehabilitation combined with conventional functional appliances for the treatment of class Ⅱ, division 1 malocclusion in orthodontic children during the growing phase. Materials and methodA comparative retrospective cohort study, enrolled patients diagnosed with class Ⅱ/1 in the stage of late mixed or early permanent dentition. Patients were divided into a TBA group (Cohort 1): receiving Twin-block appliance treatment; and a MMR group (Cohort 2): receiving either early masticatory myofunction rehabilitation as adjunctive therapy combined with the same conventional functional appliances. The study variables were active (Phase 1) treatment duration, oral esthetic subjective impact score (OASIS), several cephalometric indices calculated from X-ray photographs, the maximum voltage (mV) and asymmetry index (AsI) of anterior temporalis (TA) and masseter muscles (MM) before and after treatment. Complications were also recorded. ResultsA total of 424 cases were enrolled. The mean treatment duration in the MMR group was 168.33 days (SD: 25.43) and 215.00 days (SD: 28.81) in the TBA group; mean difference: -46.67 days (95% CI: [-81.62, -11.71]), P<0.001. For the OASIS outcome measure, there was no statistically significant difference between the mean total scores for the MMR group (18.83±7.73) or TBA group (17.67±6.47) groups adjusted to include pre-treatment OASIS scores (P = 0.783). After treatment, sella-nasion-B point (SNB), mandibular incisor angle, maxillary base and mandibular base in both two groups were significantly increased, while AB plane angle (ANB), maxillary incisor angle, overjet and overbite were significantly decreased. The mV and AsI of TA and MM were also improved following treatment. However, no significant differences were observed between two groups. ConclusionOur results confirmed that early masticatory myofunction rehabilitation in combination with conventional TBA for patients in the growing phase was significantly effective in the management of class Ⅱ/1 in orthodontic treatment, which could significantly shorten the treatment duration and had the similar improvement in the cephalometry data, OASIS scores and masticatory muscles function when comparing to conventional TBA alone.

Morphological alterations of lumbar intervertebral discs in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXTEtiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is still unknown. Prior in vitro research suggests intervertebral disc pathomorphology as a cause for the initiation and progression of the spinal deformity, however, this has not been well characterized in vivo. PURPOSETo quantify and compare lumbar disc health and morphology in AIS to controls. STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGCross-sectional study. METHODSAll lumbar discs were imaged using a 3T MRI scanner. T2-weighted and quantitative T2* maps were acquired. Axial slices of each disc were reconstructed, and customized scripts were used to extract outcome measurements: Nucleus pulposus (NP) signal intensity and location, disc signal volume, transition zone slope, and asymmetry index. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed between the NP location and disc wedge angle for AIS patients. ANOVAs were utilized to elucidate differences in disc health and morphology metrics between AIS patients and healthy controls. α=0.05. RESULTSThere were no significant differences in disc health metrics between controls and scoliotic discs. There was a significant shift in the NP location towards the convex side of the disc in AIS patients compared to healthy controls, with an associated increase of the transition zone slope on the convex side. Additionally, with increasing disc wedge angle, the NP center migrated towards the convex side of the disc. CONCLUSIONSThe present study elucidates morphological distinctions of intervertebral discs between healthy adolescents and those diagnosed with AIS. Discs in patients diagnosed with AIS are asymmetric, with the NP shifted towards the convex side, which was exacerbated by an increased disc wedge angle. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEInvestigation of the MRI signal distribution (T2w and T2* maps) within the disc suggests an asymmetric pressure gradient shifting the NP laterally towards the convexity. Quantifying the progression of these morphological alterations during maturation and in response to treatment will provide further insight into the mechanisms of curve progression and correction, respectively.

Frontal Asymmetry in Pilgrims

Individuals with religious or spiritual problems experience depressive and anxiety symptoms, together with changes in cognitive style and coping. These problems are associated with altered frontal asymmetry (left greater than right) during the processing of religious stimuli. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of pilgrimage on frontal asymmetry. The participants were 50 individuals experiencing religious or spiritual problems according to DSM-5 criteria. Some 25 of them participated in a two-week religious pilgrimage, and 25 matched volunteers went on non-religious holidays. We recorded resting-state EEG at baseline and after a religious phase (reading a sacred text and listening to music) (NEUVO–CURRY 8X-system, 256-channel). The frontal asymmetry index was calculated for 1 min epochs by subtracting the left electrode sites’ logarithmically transformed alpha frequency from homologous right leads (F4-F3, F8-F7). Anxiety, depressive symptoms, and rumination were assessed using self-report scales. Psychological and EEG assessments were performed before and after the pilgrimage or holiday. The results revealed that individuals experienced less anxiety, depression, and rumination following the pilgrimage. There was a significant reduction in frontal asymmetry during the processing of religious stimuli in pilgrims. We found no similar changes in volunteers who went on a non-religious holiday. These results indicate that frontal asymmetry and negative emotionality are ameliorated during a pilgrimage in individuals with religious or spiritual problems.

Inhibitory control associated with the neural mechanism of joint attention in preschoolers: An fNIRS evidence

Joint attention (JA) is fundamental to the development of children's social functioning; both its response and initiation are closely related to executive function (EF), but the relationship between JA and EF has been relatively rarely studied. The present study aimed to investigate the between-condition differences in brain activation and synchronization of JA under four conditions: (1) stranger-Initiating Joint Attention (Stranger-IJA); (2) teacher-Initiating Joint Attention (Teacher-IJA); (3) stranger-Responding to Joint Attention (Stranger-RJA); and (4) teacher-Responding to Joint Attention (Teacher-RJA). It also aimed to explore the relationships between neuroimaging data and children's inhibitory control levels. To address these two goals, the present study employed 41 (aged 58.61 ± 8.64 months, 24 boys) preschool children through behavioral and functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) brain imaging assessment to measure children's EF and brain function under JA, respectively. The results revealed that: (1) a significantly higher prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation was triggered in IJA than RJA; (2) a significantly higher brain activation was triggered in JA with a stranger than with a teacher; (3) a significantly higher index of synchronization asymmetry was evoked in the left and right PFC during interaction with the teacher than with the stranger; and (4) preschoolers' brain activation and synchronization were correlated with their inhibitory control level. The findings advance our understanding of preschoolers' social cognitive development with a biological aspect, offer an opportunity to understand the potential risk of the neural disorder in preschoolers, and provide a basis and insight for preventing neural developmental disorders.

Tropical cyclone size asymmetry index and climatology

Tropical cyclone size asymmetry index and climatology

Impact of the lateral skeletal stability following bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for mandibular asymmetry

This study evaluated the stability of bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) associated with positional plagiocephaly and temporal and masseter muscles using posteroanterior cephalogram analysis and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). This retrospective cohort study included 31 patients who underwent BSSRO for mandibular asymmetry. The cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) and the cephalic index were used as indicators of positional plagiocephaly. The distance from the vertical reference line to the menton (Me) was measured on posteroanterior cephalograms immediately and 1 year after surgery, and postoperative stability was assessed. Temporal and masseter muscles were constructed from 3D-CT data and their volumes were measured. Simple regression analysis showed a significant correlation between postoperative changes in the vertical reference line to the Me and the CVAI (R=0.56, p=0.001), the amount of surgical movement in the vertical reference line to the Me (R=0.41, p=0.023), and the variable temporal muscle volume (R=0.27, p=0.028). There was no significant correlation between postoperative changes in the vertical reference line to the Me and the cephalic index (R=0.093, p=0.62) and variable masseter muscle volume (R=0.16, p=0.38). According to multivariate analysis, CVAI (p=0.003) and amount of surgical movement in the vertical reference line to the Me (p=0.014) were significant predictors of postoperative change in the vertical reference line to the Me. Positional plagiocephaly and amount of surgical movement influence lateral skeletal stability following BSSRO for mandibular asymmetry.

18F]FDG PET metabolic patterns in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with different pathological types.

To investigate [18F]FDG PET patterns of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) patients with distinct pathologic types and provide possible guidance for predicting long-term prognoses of patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. This was a retrospective review of MTLE patients who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy between 2016 and 2021. Patients were classified as having chronic inflammation and gliosis (gliosis, n = 44), hippocampal sclerosis (HS, n = 43), or focal cortical dysplasia plus HS (FCD-HS, n = 13) based on the postoperative pathological diagnosis. Metabolic patterns and the severity of metabolic abnormalities were investigated among MTLE patients and healthy controls (HCs). The standardized uptake value (SUV), SUV ratio (SUVr), and asymmetry index (AI) of regions of interest were applied to evaluate the severity of metabolic abnormalities. Imaging processing was performed with statistical parametric mapping (SPM12). With a mean follow-up of 2.8years, the seizure freedom (Engel class IA) rates of gliosis, HS, and FCD-HS were 54.55%, 62.79%, and 69.23%, respectively. The patients in the gliosis group presented a metabolic pattern with a larger involvement of extratemporal areas, including the ipsilateral insula. SUV, SUVr, and AI in ROIs were decreased for patients in all three MTLE groups compared with those of HCs, but the differences among all three MTLE groups were not significant. MTLE patients with isolated gliosis had the worst prognosis and hypometabolism in the insula, but the degree of metabolic decrease did not differ from the other two groups. Hypometabolic regions should be prioritized for [18F]FDG PET presurgical evaluation rather than [18F]FDG uptake values. This study proposes guidance for optimizing the operation scheme in patients with refractory MTLE and emphasizes the potential of molecular neuroimaging with PET using selected tracers to predict the postsurgical histology of patients with refractory MTLE epilepsy. • MTLE patients with gliosis had poor surgical outcomes and showed a distinct pattern of decreased metabolism in the ipsilateral insula. • In the preoperative assessment of MTLE, it is recommended to prioritize the evaluation of glucose hypometabolism areas over [18F]FDG uptake values. • The degree of glucose hypometabolism in the epileptogenic focus was not associated with the surgical outcomes of MTLE.

Generative adversarial network-based attenuation correction for 99mTc-TRODAT-1 brain SPECT.

Attenuation correction (AC) is an important correction method to improve the quantification accuracy of dopamine transporter (DAT) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Chang's method was developed for AC (Chang-AC) when CT-based AC was not available, assuming uniform attenuation coefficients inside the body contour. This study aims to evaluate Chang-AC and different deep learning (DL)-based AC approaches on 99mTc-TRODAT-1 brain SPECT using clinical patient data on two different scanners. Two hundred and sixty patients who underwent 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT/CT scans from two different scanners (scanner A and scanner B) were retrospectively recruited. The ordered-subset expectation-maximization (OS-EM) method reconstructed 120 projections with dual-energy scatter correction, with or without CT-AC. We implemented a 3D conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) for the indirect deep learning-based attenuation correction (DL-ACμ) and direct deep learning-based attenuation correction (DL-AC) methods, estimating attenuation maps (μ-maps) and attenuation-corrected SPECT images from non-attenuation-corrected (NAC) SPECT, respectively. We further applied cross-scanner training (cross-scanner indirect deep learning-based attenuation correction [cull-ACμ] and cross-scanner direct deep learning-based attenuation correction [call-AC]) and merged the datasets from two scanners for ensemble training (ensemble indirect deep learning-based attenuation correction [eDL-ACμ] and ensemble direct deep learning-based attenuation correction [eDL-AC]). The estimated μ-maps from (c/e)DL-ACμ were then used in reconstruction for AC purposes. Chang's method was also implemented for comparison. Normalized mean square error (NMSE), structural similarity index (SSIM), specific uptake ratio (SUR), and asymmetry index (%ASI) of the striatum were calculated for different AC methods. The NMSE for Chang's method, DL-ACμ, DL-AC, cDL-ACμ, cDL-AC, eDL-ACμ, and eDL-AC is 0.0406 ± 0.0445, 0.0059 ± 0.0035, 0.0099 ± 0.0066, 0.0253 ± 0.0102, 0.0369 ± 0.0124, 0.0098 ± 0.0035, and 0.0162 ± 0.0118 for scanner A and 0.0579 ± 0.0146, 0.0055 ± 0.0034, 0.0063 ± 0.0028, 0.0235 ± 0.0085, 0.0349 ± 0.0086, 0.0115 ± 0.0062, and 0.0117 ± 0.0038 for scanner B, respectively. The SUR and %ASI results for DL-ACμ are closer to CT-AC, Followed by DL-AC, eDL-ACμ, cDL-ACμ, cDL-AC, eDL-AC, Chang's method, and NAC. All DL-based AC methods are superior to Chang-AC. DL-ACμ is superior to DL-AC. Scanner-specific training is superior to cross-scanner and ensemble training. DL-based AC methods are feasible and robust for 99mTc-TRODAT-1 brain SPECT.

Correlation of social smile symmetry with facial symmetry

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the correlation of social smile symmetry with facial symmetry.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, frontal view photographs were obtained from 169 eligible patients at rest and smiling with a camera at the level of their nose tip. Several landmarks were selected for facial symmetry and measured at rest and social smiling at the two sides of the face. The respective formula was used to calculate the asymmetry index (AI). The mean values for each AI were calculated, and the correlation between the criteria for a symmetric smile in a social smile with the criteria for facial symmetry, and the correlation between the difference in symmetry criteria at rest and social smiling with facial symmetry criteria were analyzed.ResultsSignificant correlations were noted between Oc-b AI (smile) and Sn-B (rest) facial AI (P = 0.046), An-a (smile) AI and Gn-a (rest) facial AI (P = 0.002), An-b (smile) AI and Sn-b (rest) facial AI (P < 0.001), Pog-a (smile) and Sn-a (rest) facial AI (P < 0.001), Nt-a (smile) and Sn-a (rest) facial AI (P < 0.001), Nt-b (smile) and Sn-b (rest) facial AI (P < 0.001), Ph-a (smile) and Sn-a (rest) facial AI (P < 0.001), Ph-b (smile) and Sn-b (smile) facial AI (P = 0.007), Oc-b AI (difference) and Gn-b (rest) facial AI (P = 0.031), Oc-Pog (difference) AI and Gn-b (rest) facial AI (P = 0.041), An-b (difference) AI and Sn-b (rest) facial AI (P < 0.001), Nt-a (difference) and Sn-a (rest) facial AI (P = 0.006), Nt-b (difference) and Sn-b (rest) facial AI (P < 0.001), and Ph-b (difference) and Sn-b (rest) facial AI (P < 0.001).ConclusionsA significant correlation exists between social smile symmetry and facial symmetry.

Karyotype analysis and genome size estimation of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. an economical important tree species in China

ABSTRACT Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. is a multi-purpose tree used for landscaping and ecological protection, and in the chemical and wood oil industries in China. However, the karyotype and genome size of S. mukorossi are currently unknown, which has hindered the development of novel cultivars and identification of Sapindus species. In this study, we characterized the karyotype and estimated nuclear DNA content of S. mukorossi from southern China. The S. mukorossi karyotype was characterized by 2n = 2× = 28 = 12sm + 16 m, and the karyology analyses of trees from Fujian, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang Provinces gave an average relative chromosome length of 19.13, 22.01 and 22.45 μm, karyotype asymmetry index of 59.78, 60.60 and 60.03, mean centromere index of 38.27, 39.26 and 39.68, and chromosome types classified as “2B”, “2B”, and “1A”, respectively. Using the known genome size of poplar as a standard species, with internal and external standard methods, the genome size in Fujian, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang Provinces was 414.215 ± 0.96, 444.55 ± 10.12 and 439.67 ± 2.01 Mbp; the average size of about 432 Mbp represents a small genome. This study is the first report about karyotype for S. mukorossi and will facilitate future cytogenetic and omic studies of this species, and could serve as a reference for studies on other species related to this genus.

Exploratory study of a multifrequency EIT-based method for detecting intracranial abnormalities.

The purpose of this paper is to compare the differences in the features of multifrequency electrical impedance tomography (MFEIT) images of human heads between healthy subjects and patients with brain diseases and to explore the possibility of applying MFEIT to intracranial abnormality detection. Sixteen healthy volunteers and 8 patients with brain diseases were recruited as subjects, and the cerebral MFEIT data of 9 frequencies in the range of 21 kHz - 100 kHz of all subjects were acquired with an MFEIT system. MFEIT image sequences were obtained according to certain imaging algorithms, and the area ratio of the ROI (AR_ROI) and the mean value of the reconstructed resistivity change of the ROI (MVRRC_ROI) on both the left and right sides of these images were extracted. The geometric asymmetry index (GAI) and intensity asymmetry index (IAI) were further proposed to characterize the symmetry of MFEIT images based on the extracted indices and to statistically compare and analyze the differences between the two groups of subjects on MFEIT images. There were no significant differences in either the AR_ROI or the MVRRC_ROI between the two sides of the brains of healthy volunteers (p > 0.05); some of the MFEIT images mainly in the range of 30 kHz - 60 kHz of patients with brain diseases showed stronger resistivity distributions (larger area or stronger signal) that were approximately symmetric with the location of the lesions. However, statistical analysis showed that the AR_ROI and the MVRRC_ROI on the healthy sides of MFEIT images of patients with unilateral brain disease were not significantly different from those on the affected side (p > 0.05). The GAI and IAI were higher in all patients with brain diseases than in healthy volunteers except for 80 kHz (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the geometric symmetry and the signal intensity symmetry of the reconstructed targets in the MFEIT images between healthy volunteers and patients with brain diseases, and the above findings provide a reference for the rapid detection of intracranial abnormalities using MFEIT images and may provide a basis for further exploration of MFEIT for the detection of brain diseases.

The Impact of A Successful Pterygium Excision on Corneal Astigmatism and Topography

Objective: To determine the impact of successful excision of pterygium on corneal astigmatism and topography.&#x0D; Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Feb 2021 to Jul 2021.&#x0D; Methodology: All 52 patients of pterygium who underwent surgical excision of the pterygium during the study period were included. The size of pterygium was measured in millimeters. Pre-operative automated keratometry and corneal topography was done, and changes in astigmatism, surface asymmetry index, surface regularity index, uncorrected visual acuity and best corrected visual acuity were measured postoperatively on the 7th day. Paired sample t-test was applied between pre- and post-operative astigmatism, surface asymmetry index, surface regularity index, uncorrected visual acuity and best corrected visual acuity.&#x0D; Results: The mean age of participants was 42.02±13.3 years, with 22(42.3%) females and 30(57.7%) males. The male to female ratio is 1.36:1. The highest frequency of cases was noted in the age group, 31-50 years (42%), followed by 18-20 years (21%). Pterygium size was 2.25 to 4.10 mm, with a mean of 3.16±0.54mm. Pain and photophobia were noted in 5 cases. Pre- and postoperative comparison of astigmatism and corneal topography revealed a significant reduction in Surface Asymmetry Index and Surface Regularity Index values (p-value&lt;0.001). Uncorrected Visual Acuity (p=0.002) and Best Corrected Visual Acuity also improved significantly after surgery (p=0.006).&#x0D; Conclusions: This study concluded that pterygium excision brings a significant decrease in astigmatism and reversible corneal topography changes.

Motor progression phenotypes in early-stage Parkinson’s Disease: A clinical prediction model and the role of glymphatic system imaging biomarkers

BackgroundSubstantial heterogeneity of motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) poses a challenge to disease prediction. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to construct a nomogram model that can distinguish different longitudinal trajectories of motor symptom changes in early-stage PD patients. MethodsData on 90 patients with 5-years of follow-up were collected from the Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) cohort. We used a latent class mixed modeling (LCMM) to identify distinct progression patterns of motor symptoms, and backward stepwise logistic regression with baseline information was conducted to identify the potential predictors for motor trajectory and to develop a nomogram. The performance of the nomogram model was then evaluated using the optimism-corrected C-index for internal validation, the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for discrimination, the calibration curve for predictive accuracy, and decision curve analysis (DCA) for its clinical value. ResultsWe identified two trajectories for motor progression patterns. The first, Class 1 (Motor deteriorated group), was characterized by sustained, continuously worsening motor symptoms, and the second, Class 2 (Motor stable group), had stable motor symptoms throughout the follow-up period. The best combination of 7 baseline variables was identified and assembled into the nomogram: Scopa-AUT [odds ratio (OR), 1.11; p = 0.091], Letter number sequencing (LNS) (OR, 0.76; p = 0.068), the asymmetry index of putamen (OR, 0.95; p = 0.034), mean caudate uptake (OR, 0.14; p = 0.086), CSF pTau/α-synuclein (OR, 0.00; p = 0.011), CSF tTau/Aβ (OR, 25434806; p = 0.025), and the index for diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (ALPS-index) (OR, 0.02; p = 0.030). The nomogram achieved good discrimination, with an original AUC of 0.901 (95% CI, 0.813–0.989), and the bias-corrected concordance index (C-index) with 1,000 bootstraps was 0.834. The calibration curve and DCA also suggested both the high accuracy and clinical usefulness of the nomogram, respectively. ConclusionsThis study proposes an effective nomogram to predict different motor progression patterns in early-stage PD. Furthermore, the imaging biomarker indicating glymphatic function could be an independent predictive factor for PD motor progression.

Statistical Analysis and Forecasting of Indexes of Gender Asymmetry in the Labor Market of the Orenburg Region

All-Russian and regional labor markets operate in an unstable socio-economic situation, which can contribute to the emergence of gender disproportion. The study of gender asymmetry is considered the most popular direction during periods of “economic upheaval”, since this kind of instability increases the inequality of men and women in various spheres of life. The state of turbulence in which the labor market of Russia as a whole and each of its regions is located contributes to the adaptation of each of its segments to new forms of work. This study examines the results of an analysis of the structure and trends in the dynamics of indexes of employment and unemployment of the male and female population in the Orenburg region for 2016-2021. The choice of the time period is justified by the uneven development of both the world and the Russian economy. Modern economic realities, in which the labor market exists, develops both in the country as a whole, and in its regions, experiencing a number of shocks, determine the scientific novelty of the issues under consideration.Purpose of the study. The main idea of the paper done is the possibility of using the methods of economic and statistical analysis to study dynamic differences in gender structures according to various characteristics, development directions that determine gender asymmetry in the labor market of the Orenburg region, and predict its main indexes for the medium term.Materials and methods. The information base of the study was the statistical information of Orenburgstat, which characterizes gender asymmetry in the labor market of the Orenburg region. To achieve this goal, a set of methods of economic and statistical analysis was applied, including the calculation of indexes of the structure and structural differences, dynamics, identifying trends, forecasting, as well as presenting the results of the study using tables and figures.Results. According to the results of the study, an average portrait of a busy and carefree person by gender was compiled. The characteristics of the male and female population in the labor market of the Orenburg region in 2021 compared to 2016 are highlighted. The study of structural differences was carried out according to the criterion of V. Ryabtsev, during which it was noted that there were no significant changes in the structures of employed men and women. A significant level of differences characterizes the age structure of unemployed men and women in 2021 compared to 2016, as well as the structure of unemployed men by level of education. The study made it possible to assert that in the dynamics of indexes characterizing gender inequality in the labor market of the Orenburg region, unstable changes are observed. The study tested the hypothesis of the presence/absence of trends in the time series of indexes characterizing gender asymmetry in the labor market of the region. For this purpose, one of the modifications of the series criterion was used. The assumption that there is no trend in the dynamics series under consideration has not been confirmed, therefore, the trend exists. Taking into account this circumstance, trend models were created, among which, according to the best statistical characteristics, second-order polynomial models were selected. With the help of the selected polynomials of the second degree, it was determined that in the dynamics of employment and unemployment indexes of the male and female population, downward trends of change prevail. Further, their prospective indexes were calculated. Conclusion. The study made it possible to analyze the main vectors that are emerging in the field of employment and unemployment in the regional labor market by gender, and to predict their main indexes for the medium term. In the dynamics of the number of both male and female labor force in the Orenburg region, unstable trends will be observed in the future. The number of women employed in the region’s economy will grow; the number of unemployed women will decrease. In the forecast period, the number of employed men in the economy of the Orenburg region will change under the influence of a downtrend. The number of unemployed men in the period from 2023 to 2025 will tend to decrease.