Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on functional connectivity (FC) of thalamic subregions in patients with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).Methods:This study was a cross-sectional investigation. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were retrospectively collected from 56 PMS patients (PMS group) and 66 healthy controls (control group) recruited from various universities and hospitals in Nanning between November 2021 and June 2024. Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data and fMRI data during taVNS immediate stimulation (2 Hz, 25 Hz) were acquired from subjects during their late luteal phase. Using thalamic subregions (anterior thalamic nucleus, lateral nucleus, ventral nucleus, medial nucleus, central nucleus, posterior nucleus) as seeds, two-sample t-tests or paired t-tests were employed to analyze alterations in thalamic subregion FC in PMS patients and the regulatory effects of taVNS on these changes. Independent samples t-test were used to compare the differences in clinical and laboratory indicators between the PMS group and the control group. The relationship between taVNS regulation of thalamic subregion FC in PMS patients and thalamic internal functional connectivity were analyzed using mediation effect analysis. Results:Compared to the control group, patients in the PMS group showed increased scores on the Daily Record of Severity of Problems, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale 17, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 14 during the late luteal phase ( P<0.05). At baseline, PMS patients exhibited higher FC between the left thalamic lateral nucleus and the left insula, and lower FC between the left medial nucleus, posterior nucleus, and ventral nucleus of the thalamus and the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) compared to the control group (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). During 2 Hz taVNS immediate stimulation in PMS group, FC between the left thalamic medial nucleus, posterior nucleus, ventral nucleus and the right MFG, as well as the FC between the left thalamic ventral nucleu and the left MFG increased compared to baseline levels; meanwhile, FC between the left thalamic posterior nucleus, ventral nucleus and the left insula decreased compared to baseline levels (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). During 25 Hz taVNS immediate stimulation, the FC between the left thalamic ventral nucleus and the right MFG decreased compared to the baseline level (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). Mediation effect analysis showed that the FC between the left thalamic posterior nucleus and the left lateral nucleus mediated part of the association between the FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-left insula and the FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-left putamen/insula; there were significant direct effects between the FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-the left posterior nucleus and FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-the left insula, as well as between the FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-the left MFG and FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-the right MFG. Conclusions:taVNS can modulate abnormal FC of the left thalamic subregions in PMS patients, restoring it toward normalization. The regulatory effects of 2 Hz stimulation are more pronounced than those of 25 Hz stimulation. This modulation primarily operates through two pathways: the left thalamic lateral nucleus-left insula-left thalamic ventral nucleus pathway and the left MFG-left thalamic ventral nucleus-right MFG.

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on functional connectivity (FC) of thalamic subregions in patients with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).Methods:This study was a cross-sectional investigation. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were retrospectively collected from 56 PMS patients (PMS group) and 66 healthy controls (control group) recruited from various universities and hospitals in Nanning between November 2021 and June 2024. Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data and fMRI data during taVNS immediate stimulation (2 Hz, 25 Hz) were acquired from subjects during their late luteal phase. Using thalamic subregions (anterior thalamic nucleus, lateral nucleus, ventral nucleus, medial nucleus, central nucleus, posterior nucleus) as seeds, two-sample t-tests or paired t-tests were employed to analyze alterations in thalamic subregion FC in PMS patients and the regulatory effects of taVNS on these changes. Independent samples t-test were used to compare the differences in clinical and laboratory indicators between the PMS group and the control group. The relationship between taVNS regulation of thalamic subregion FC in PMS patients and thalamic internal functional connectivity were analyzed using mediation effect analysis. Results:Compared to the control group, patients in the PMS group showed increased scores on the Daily Record of Severity of Problems, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale 17, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 14 during the late luteal phase ( P<0.05). At baseline, PMS patients exhibited higher FC between the left thalamic lateral nucleus and the left insula, and lower FC between the left medial nucleus, posterior nucleus, and ventral nucleus of the thalamus and the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) compared to the control group (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). During 2 Hz taVNS immediate stimulation in PMS group, FC between the left thalamic medial nucleus, posterior nucleus, ventral nucleus and the right MFG, as well as the FC between the left thalamic ventral nucleu and the left MFG increased compared to baseline levels; meanwhile, FC between the left thalamic posterior nucleus, ventral nucleus and the left insula decreased compared to baseline levels (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). During 25 Hz taVNS immediate stimulation, the FC between the left thalamic ventral nucleus and the right MFG decreased compared to the baseline level (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). Mediation effect analysis showed that the FC between the left thalamic posterior nucleus and the left lateral nucleus mediated part of the association between the FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-left insula and the FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-left putamen/insula; there were significant direct effects between the FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-the left posterior nucleus and FC of the left lateral thalamic nucleus-the left insula, as well as between the FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-the left MFG and FC of the left ventral thalamic nucleus-the right MFG. Conclusions:taVNS can modulate abnormal FC of the left thalamic subregions in PMS patients, restoring it toward normalization. The regulatory effects of 2 Hz stimulation are more pronounced than those of 25 Hz stimulation. This modulation primarily operates through two pathways: the left thalamic lateral nucleus-left insula-left thalamic ventral nucleus pathway and the left MFG-left thalamic ventral nucleus-right MFG.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a neuromodulation technique that achieves therapeutic purpose through intermittent and chronic stimulation of vagus nerve afferent fibers, which has a remarkable effect on functional diseases of the central nervous system, and has been approved by FDA for intractable epilepsy, depression and migraine treatments. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation(taVNS) is a new type of non-invasive nerve regulation therapy based on traditional VNS and vagus nerve anatomy, and has a wide range of central regulation; taVNS can improve the cognitive state by regulating functions of cognition-related cerebral cortex and nerve nuclei, regulating inflammatory response, promoting neurotransmitter transmission, and so on, which has a broad application prospect in cognition-related diseases. This paper mainly summarizes the recent advance in central mechanism of taVNS in improving cognitive function.

Objective To explore the relationship between MRI and VEGF&CerbB-2 expression in atypical breast cancer.Methods 82 cases of atypical breast cancer confirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively.The relationship between MRI and VEGF &CerbB-2 expression were compared and analyzed.Results In total patients,57 cases were VEGF positive expression(69.5%,57/82),50 cases were CerbB-2 positive expression(61.0%,50/82).The VEGF positive expression rate was 78.8% in maximum diameter ≥2.0 cm group,which was obviously higher than < 2.0 cm group(P<0.05).Internal necrosis,ADC value and VEGF positive expression were positively correlated (P<0.05).There were not positively correlated relationships between internal reinforcement method,TIC and VEGF positive expression(P>0.05).There were positively correlated relationships between internal necrosis,ADC value and CerbB-2 positive expression (P<0.05).There were not positively correlated relationships between maximum diameter,internal reinforcement method, TIC and CerbB-2 positive expression(P>0.05).Conclusion There are relationships between the maximum diameter,internal necrosis,ADC value and molecular biology (VEGF,CerbB-2)of the atypical breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the application significance of 3.0T MR three dimensional double-echo steady state(3D-DESS) and three dimensional-true fast imaging with steady-state procession(3D-True FISP) sequences in diagnosis of wrist cartilage of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods 26 patients who were clinically diagnosed with RA underwent wrist MR scans with 3D-DESS and 3D-True FISP sequences, while both sequences' scanning were achieved on 20 of them.340 articular-surface morphological conditions' were observed,which were divided into level 0, level 1 and level 2 damages according to morphological performance,and recorded on 3D-DESS and 3D-True FISP sequence respectively.The diagnostic differences in the number of lesions were compared for two sequences.Results The numbers were 79 and 50 for level 1 damage and 23 and 33 for level 2 damage on 3D-DESS and 3D-True FISP sequence respectively (P<0.05).The artifacts were showed in 14 patients on 3D-True FISP,and only two patients on 3D-DESS.Conclusion 3D-DESS sequence does better than 3D-True FISP in displaying RA wrist cartilage,which is able to provide certain help for treatment and prognosis evaluation of RA.

Objective To evaluate the value of DTI in mild articular cartilage injury in patellofemoral joint.Methods The DTI and arthroscopy data of 82 patients wih routine MRI diagnosed as mild articular cartilage injury were analyzed retrospectively.According to the results of arthroscopy,40 cases of mild articular cartilage injury with Outerbridge classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ were divided into experimental group,and 33 cases with normal patellofemoral articular cartilage were divided into control group.There were 8 articular cartilage injury patients with Outerbridge classification Ⅲ or Ⅳ in patello-femoral join were excluded.The DTI data were analyzed compared with arthroscopy.Results Arthroscopy detected 62 lesions of cartilage injury in experimental group.Totally 49 lesions (49/62,79.03 ％) were detected by ADC pseudocolor image and 51 lesions (51/62,82.25 ％) were detected by FA pseudocolor image.The DTI pseudocolor images of articular cartilage injury showed uneven levels.The red or pink levels can been observed.Compared with the control group,ADC value increased and FA value decreased significantly in experimental group (both P＜0.05).Conclusion DTI can clearly display and detect mild articular cartilage injury in patellofemoral joint,which provide valuable information for early cartilaginous injury.

Objective To study the imaging performance and mechanism of acute patellofemoral joint impingent syndrome.Meth-ods The MR images and clinical data of acute patellofemoral joint impingent syndrome were analysed retrospectively in 10 patients, which were confirmed by clinic .MRI and DR examination were performed in all patients,in which 6 patients had complete knee ar-throscopy material.The imaging performance and mechanism of acute patellofemoral joint impingent syndrome were summarized re-spectively.Results All cases had clear history of buckling ectropion trauma;Patellar dislocation or subluxation were detected in 9 cases on DR examination,10 cases on MRI;Patellar medial fracture or osteochondral fracture caused by acute slipped patella was de-tected in 1 case on DR examination,2 cases (3 places)on MRI;Medial patellar retinaculum injury were detected in 10 cases on MRI,which were corresponding to that on surgery.Articular injury and subchondral marrow edema in particular parts of joint (an-terolateral of lateral femoral and medial patellar)were detected in 9 cases on MRI.MRI features of articular cartilage injury were confirmed by arthroscopy.MRI showed ACL or PCL injury in 3 cases,meniscus tear in 4 cases,which were quite consistent with the arthroscopy findings.Conclusion MRI can effective display joint cartilage damage,subchondral marrow edema in particular parts of the joint,which is useful to clinical prediction and treatment at early stage.

Objective To demonstrate the feasibility of DTI in human calf with body phased-array coil and surface coil of spine as receiving coil on 3 T system, and to optimize the parameters of sequence, including slice thickness and b-value. Methods Fifteen healthy volunteers were recruited in this study and randomly divided into three groups. The DTI sequence for head was performed on calf in the first group (5 cases), and the sequence parameters were optimized based on the deficits of the raw and the post-processed DTI images. Then, different slice thickness were applied in the senond group (5 eases) to optimize the slice thickness, and this optimized parameter with the highest score based on quality of the post-processed DTI images was applied in the next step. Finally, different b values were applied in the last group to optimize this parameters. The b value with the highest score based on the quality of the pest-processed was the proper one. Results Three problems existed in the raw and the pest-processed images, when the DTI sequence for brain was used for the calf. First, the SNR of raw images is extremely low. Second, the muscle were unclear on the image with parts of signal lose, especially in the anterior tibialis muscle. Finally, the artifacts due to chemical shift and ghost are quite serious. The scores for muscle display quality with slice thickness of 4 mm , 5 mm and 6 mm were (7.0±0. 0), (8.6±0. 9) and (9.0±0. 0) score respectively, the signal less scores were (5.0±0. 0) and ( 12. 8±2. 6) and ( 13. 8±2. 2) score respectively, and the general score were (22. 0±0. 0) and (30. 1±3.8) and (31.0±4. 1 ) score respectively. The differences of above scores were significant among different slice thickness (F-value were 21. 000 and 30. 544 and 12. 390 respectively, P <0. 05 ). The muscle displaying quality, signal loss and general scores were lowest in group with 4 mm slice thickness (q-value were 4. 896.6. 120,6. 327,7. 138,3. 863 and 4. 043, P < 0. 05 ) o The scores of muscle display quality, signal loss and general for b =400 s/mm2 were (9. 0±0. 0), ( 14. 0± 2. 2 ) and ( 33.0±2. 2 ) score respectively, which were lower than those with b = 800 s/ram2 [(7.0±0.0), (6.2±2.2), (21.8±3.4) score] and b=1000 s/mm2[(7.0±0.0), (5.0±0.0), (20.6±2.2) score] (q-value were 3.873,3.873,6.650,7.672,7. 101 and 5.917, P <0.05)o The scores of muscle displaying quality, signal loss and general for b =600 s/mm2 were (8.2±1.1 ), ( 13.0± 2. 3) and ( 30. 8±3. 8 ) score respectively, which were higher than those with b = 800 s/mm2 and b= 1000 s/nun2 (q-value were 3.873, 3.873, 5.797, 6.820, 5.326 and 5.917, P <0.05).There is no significant difference between b = 600 s/ram2 and 400 s/ram2 ( q-value were 2. 582 and 0. 852 and 1. 775, P > 0. 05 ). Conclusion Our preliminary findings indicate that it is feasible to perform DTI on human calf with 3 T MR. With body phased-array coil and surface coil of spine as receiving coil, the DTI sequence were optimized to acquire enough SNB with slice thickness of 5 mm and b-value of 400 s/mm2.

Objective To elucidate the spectrum of lipid peaks in 1H-MRS of skeletal muscle and it's interpretation,to investigate the utility of 1H-MRS in evaluating intramyecellular lipid (IMCL).Methods 1H-MRS was acquired in vivo on tibialis anterior muscle (TA) and soleus muscle (S) on 5 healthy volunteers.The spectrum of the lipid peak between 0.80 and 1.80 ppm was observed with different angle between the long axis of the calf and B0.Ex vivo phantom was an cluster of capillary tubers filled with soybean oil and fat emulsion,simulating the extramyecellular lipid (EMCL) and IMCL,respectively.The spectra of the lipid peaks were compared using different angles between the phantom and Bo field.Results The lipid spectrum split to 3 to 4 peaks between 0.80 and 1.80 ppm on calf muscles,with 0.20 to 0.30 ppm interval between each neighbouring peak.The methylene peak of EMCL shifted to the right when the angle between long axis of the calf and B0 increased.The phantom could simulate the spectrum of 1H-MRS of the muscle,presenting two peaks with 0.20 to 0.30 ppm chemical shift difference between 0.80 and 1.80 ppm.They are methyl triglyceride and methylene,representing IMCL and EMCL,respectively.The peak splitting could be attributed to the high ordered muscle fibers and their chemical shift difference between inta-and extra-cellular distribution.The interval of IMCL and EMCL peaks attenuated when the angle between the muscle fiber and B0 increased from 0 to the magic angle(54.7°).Conclusion On 1H- MRS spectrum,the peak of the EMCL and IMCL splits.This indicated that 1H-MRS is an applicable method to detect IMCL noninvasively.TA is an optimizing muscle for 1H-MRS study.

Objective To investigate the application of 3D ultrashort TE double echo pulse sequence in the bone and joint MR imaging. Methods Eight volunteers and a porcine fibula in vitro with intact muscle were involved in this study. Among the volunteers, one was suspected with meniscus tear, the others were asypmtomatic. MR imaging of 3D ultrashort TE double echo pulse sequence were performed on the tibial diaphysis, knee joint, ankle and wrist of each volunteer and the porcine fibula in vitro. Using the first echo images subtract with the second echo images, we observed the subtracted images from the primary double echo images and MPR images respectively. We then compared the difference of SNR. Four different echo times of the first echo (TE1) in the images were set as 0. 08 ms, 0. 16 ms, 0. 24 ms, 0. 35 ms. The quality of the subtracted images from the primary double echo images of the four different TE1 was compared.The MIP images from the primary double echo images with TE1 of 0. 08ms were performed to display the 3D structure of the ankle tendons. The data were analysed with One-Way ANOVA and Paired-Samples t test statistically. Results The 3D images of the tendons were displayed through MIP of the subtracted images from the primary double echo images. The cortical bones, periosteums, tendons and menisci of the 8 volunteers appeared as high signal intensity in UTE pulse sequence. The SNR of the subtracted images from MPR images (SNR, 3.76 ± 0. 88) was significantly higher than those from the primary double echo images(SNR,2. 82±0. 75) (t = - 4. 851, P < 0. 01). There were significant differences among the subtracted images from each of the four different TE1. The highest quality were obtained from the TE1 of 0.08ms. The CNR were as follows: CNR<,0.08ms>1.74±0. 54, CNR<,0.16ms> 1.35 + 0. 60, CNR0.24ms>1.20±0. 48,CNR<0.35ms> 0.89±0. 24 (F = 3. 681, P < 0. 05). The artifacts appeared markedly with prolonging of the TE1.Conclusion The MRI of ultrashort TE double pulse sequence may display the short T2 components that appeared as low signal with conventional clinical MR imaging, which made it pessible to quantify the tissues containing a majority of short T2 components.