Publications (11)46.12 Total impact
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Article: Functional connectivity-based signatures of schizophrenia revealed by multiclass pattern analysis of resting-state fMRI from schizophrenic patients and their healthy siblings.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Recently, a growing number of neuroimaging studies have begun to investigate the brains of schizophrenic patients and their healthy siblings to identify heritable biomarkers of this complex disorder. The objective of this study was to use multiclass pattern analysis to investigate the inheritable characters of schizophrenia at the individual level, by comparing whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity of patients with schizophrenia to their healthy siblings. METHODS: Twenty-four schizophrenic patients, twenty-five healthy siblings and twenty-two matched healthy controls underwent the resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI) scanning. A linear support vector machine along with principal component analysis was used to solve the multi-classification problem. By reconstructing the functional connectivities with high discriminative power, three types of functional connectivity-based signatures were identified: (i) state connectivity patterns, which characterize the nature of disruption in the brain network of patients with schizophrenia; (ii) trait connectivity patterns, reflecting shared connectivities of dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia and their healthy siblings, thereby providing a possible neuroendophenotype and revealing the genetic vulnerability to develop schizophrenia; and (iii) compensatory connectivity patterns, which underlie special brain connectivities by which healthy siblings might compensate for an increased genetic risk for developing schizophrenia. RESULTS: Our multiclass pattern analysis achieved 62.0% accuracy via leave-one-out cross-validation (p < 0.001). The identified state patterns related to the default mode network, the executive control network and the cerebellum. For the trait patterns, functional connectivities between the cerebellum and the prefrontal lobe, the middle temporal gyrus, the thalamus and the middle temporal poles were identified. Connectivities among the right precuneus, the left middle temporal gyrus, the left angular and the left rectus, as well as connectivities between the cingulate cortex and the left rectus showed higher discriminative power in the compensatory patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our experimental results, we saw some indication of differences in functional connectivity patterns in the healthy siblings of schizophrenic patients compared to other healthy individuals who have no relations with the patients. Our preliminary investigation suggested that the use of resting-state functional connectivities as classification features to discriminate among schizophrenic patients, their healthy siblings and healthy controls is meaningful.BioMedical Engineering OnLine 02/2013; 12(1):10. · 1.40 Impact Factor -
Article: Comparison of psychosocial determinants in inpatients with first-episode and chronic schizophrenia in china.
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ABSTRACT: This study aimed at comparing psychosocial factors in inpatients with first-episode and chronic schizophrenia in China. A sample of 197 first-episode schizophrenia inpatients was compared with 392 chronic schizophrenics using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Social Support Rating Scale and Childhood Traumatic Questionnaire. Our findings showed that chronic schizophrenic patients had significant higher negative symptoms but lower on positive symptoms. They were also less likely to receive social support. Our results provide understanding on the existing differences between first-episode and chronic schizophrenia. Therefore, comprehensive nursing interventions are needed to facilitate social support and medication adherence in order to prevent relapses.Archives of psychiatric nursing 02/2013; 27(1):32-41. · 0.90 Impact Factor -
Article: Comparison of first-episode and chronic patients diagnosed with schizophrenia: symptoms and childhood trauma.
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ABSTRACT: AIM: There has been considerable interest in identifying and addressing the specific needs of early-episode patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in the hope that by addressing such needs early, chronic disabilities can be avoided. METHODS: One hundred twenty-eight early-episode and 571 chronic patients were compared on socio-demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms and history of childhood trauma. Symptoms were measured with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and trauma with the short version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. RESULTS: First-episode patients scored 9.3% higher than chronic patients on the PANSS positive symptom scale and 16.3% lower on the negative symptom scale. More first episode patients reported childhood sexual abuse (P = 0.033); however, fewer reported childhood emotional neglect (P = 0.01). Childhood trauma was associated with positive symptoms, specifically with hallucinations in first-episode patients (r = 0.174; P = 0.049). Moreover, fewer parents of first episode patients were living alone (P = 0.008). On multiple logistic regression, the first-episode patients were younger (odds ratio = 0.92), had higher PANSS positive symptom scores (odds ratio 1.04) and lower negative symptom scores (odds ratio 0.948 recalculate). CONCLUSIONS: More positive symptoms, fewer negative symptoms, less isolated parents and greater risk of childhood sexual abuse might warrant attention in first episode schizophrenia and perhaps should be a focus for the development of targeted interventions.Early Intervention in Psychiatry 09/2012; · 0.92 Impact Factor -
Article: Morphological and functional abnormalities of salience network in the early-stage of paranoid schizophrenia.
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ABSTRACT: A salience network (SN), mainly composed of the anterior insula (AI) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), has been suggested to play an important role in salience attribution which has been proposed as central to the pathology of paranoid schizophrenia. The role of this SN in the pathophysiology of paranoid schizophrenia, however, still remains unclear. In the present study, voxel-based morphometry and resting-state functional connectivity analyses were combined to identify morphological and functional abnormalities in the proposed SN in the early-stage of paranoid schizophrenia (ESPS). Voxel-based morphometry and resting-state functional connectivity analyses were applied to 90 ESPS patients and 90 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationships between various clinical variables and both gray matter morphology and functional connectivity within the SN in ESPS. Compared to the HC group, the ESPS group showed significantly reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in both bilateral AI and ACC. Moreover, significantly reduced functional connectivity within the SN sub-networks was identified in the ESPS group. These convergent morphological and functional deficits in SN were significantly associated with hallucinations. Additionally, illness duration correlated with reduced GMV in the left AI in ESPS. In conclusion, these findings provide convergent evidence for the morphological and functional abnormalities of the SN in ESPS. Moreover, the association of illness duration with the reduced GMV in the left AI suggests that the SN and the AI, in particular, may manifest progressive morphological changes that are especially important in the emergence of ESPS.Biological Psychiatry 08/2012; 141(1):15-21. · 8.28 Impact Factor -
Article: Complementary diffusion tensor imaging study of the corpus callosum in patients with first-episode and chronic schizophrenia.
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ABSTRACT: Abnormalities in the corpus callosum have long been implicated in schizophrenia. Previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies in patients with different durations of schizophrenia yielded inconsistent results. By comparing patients with different durations of schizophrenia, we investigated if white matter abnormalities of the corpus callosum emerge at an early stage in the illness or result from pathological progression. We recruited patients with first-episode schizophrenia, patients with chronic schizophrenia and age-, sex- and handedness-matched healthy controls. We used 2 DTI techniques (voxel-based and fibre-tracking DTI) to investigate differences in corpus callosum integrity among the 3 groups. With both DTI techniques, significantly decreased fractional anisotropy values were identified in the genu of corpus callosum in patients with chronic schizophrenia, but not first-episode schizophrenia, compared with healthy controls. Limitations: This study was cross-sectional, and the sample size was relatively small. Abnormalities in the genu of the corpus callosum might be a progressive process in schizophrenia, perhaps related to disease severity and prognosis.Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience: JPN 03/2011; 36(2):120-5. · 5.34 Impact Factor -
Article: Effect of antipsychotic medication alone vs combined with psychosocial intervention on outcomes of early-stage schizophrenia: A randomized, 1-year study.
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ABSTRACT: Antipsychotic drugs are limited in their ability to improve the overall outcome of schizophrenia. Adding psychosocial treatment may produce greater improvement in functional outcome than does medication treatment alone. To evaluate the effectiveness of antipsychotic medication alone vs combined with psychosocial intervention on outcomes of early-stage schizophrenia. Randomized controlled trial. Ten clinical sites in China. Clinical sample of 1268 patients with early-stage schizophrenia treated from January 1, 2005, through October 31, 2007. Intervention Patients were randomly assigned to receive antipsychotic medication treatment only or antipsychotic medication plus 12 months of psychosocial intervention consisting of psychoeducation, family intervention, skills training, and cognitive behavior therapy administered during 48 group sessions. The rate of treatment discontinuation or change due to any cause, relapse or remission, and assessments of insight, treatment adherence, quality of life, and social functioning. The rates of treatment discontinuation or change due to any cause were 32.8% in the combined treatment group and 46.8% in the medication-alone group. Comparisons with medication treatment alone showed lower risk of any-cause discontinuation with combined treatment (hazard ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.74; P < .001) and lower risk of relapse with combined treatment (0.57; 0.44-0.74; P < .001). The combined treatment group exhibited greater improvement in insight (P < .001), social functioning (P = .002), activities of daily living (P < .001), and 4 domains of quality of life as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (all P < or = .02). Furthermore, a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving combined treatment obtained employment or accessed education (P = .001). Compared with those receiving medication only, patients with early-stage schizophrenia receiving medication and psychosocial intervention have a lower rate of treatment discontinuation or change, a lower risk of relapse, and improved insight, quality of life, and social functioning. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00654576.Archives of general psychiatry 09/2010; 67(9):895-904. · 12.26 Impact Factor -
Article: Bilateral functional asymmetry disparity in positive and negative schizophrenia revealed by resting-state fMRI.
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ABSTRACT: Brain functional asymmetry abnormalities have previously been reported in schizophrenia. In the present study, we hypothesized that the pattern of functional asymmetry in schizophrenia may differ between patients suffering from positive and negative symptoms. We examined the relationship between altered asymmetry of functional connectivity and symptom type (positive/negative) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We selected the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus and hippocampus as regions of interest, and analyzed functional connectivity patterns between these and other brain regions. Furthermore, a voxel-based two-level asymmetry analysis was conducted to investigate differences in the asymmetry of functional connectivity patterns within and between groups. Our results showed that patients exhibiting positive symptoms had significantly increased leftward asymmetry of functional connectivity. The negative symptom group, in contrast, exhibited increased rightward asymmetry of functional connectivity. The strength of the asymmetry in these regions was found to be significantly correlated with symptom ratings obtained using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. These results suggest that predominantly positive and predominantly negative schizophrenia may have different neural underpinnings, and that certain regions in the frontal and temporal lobes, as well as the cingulate gyrus and precuneus, play important roles in mediating the symptoms of this complex disease. Our study also provided further evidence for the hypothesis that schizophrenia is related to abnormalities in functional brain networks.Psychiatry Research 03/2010; 182(1):30-9. · 2.52 Impact Factor -
Article: Schizophrenia patients and their healthy siblings share disruption of white matter integrity in the left prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus but not the anterior cingulate cortex.
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ABSTRACT: Healthy siblings of schizophrenia patients have an almost 9-fold higher risk for developing the illness than the general population. Disruption of white matter (WM) integrity as indicated by reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), is believed to be the key substrate of schizophrenia. However, it remains unclear whether schizophrenia patients and their healthy siblings share a specific pattern of disruption of WM integrity that may be related to the disease risk. The objective of this study is to determine whether a specific brain regional pattern of disruption of WM integrity is shared by schizophrenia patients and their healthy siblings. We investigated brain white matter abnormalities by voxel-based analysis of white matter FA data acquired from diffusion tensor imaging in 34 pairs of schizophrenia patients and their healthy siblings, as well as in 32 healthy controls. Both schizophrenia patients and their healthy siblings showed reduced white matter FA in the left prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus in comparison to healthy controls, without significant difference between patients and siblings. In marked contrast, only schizophrenia patients exhibited reduced white matter FA in the left anterior cingulate cortex in comparison to both siblings and controls, without significant difference between siblings and controls. Thus, schizophrenia patients and their healthy siblings share disruption of WM integrity in the left prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus that may be related to higher risk of healthy siblings to develop schizophrenia, which may be eventually attributed to additional disruption of WM integrity in the left anterior cingulate cortex.Biological Psychiatry 08/2009; 114(1-3):128-35. · 8.28 Impact Factor -
Article: Frontal and cingulate gray matter volume reduction in heroin dependence: optimized voxel-based morphometry.
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ABSTRACT: Repeated exposure to heroin, a typical opiate, causes neuronal adaptation and may result in anatomical changes in specific brain regions, particularly the frontal and limbic cortices. The volume changes of gray matter (GM) of these brain regions, however, have not been identified in heroin addiction. Using structural magnetic resonance imaging and an optimized voxel-based morphometry approach, the GM volume difference between 15 Chinese heroin-dependent and 15 healthy subjects was tested. Compared to healthy subjects, the heroin-dependent subjects had reduced GM volume in the right prefrontal cortex, left supplementary motor cortex and bilateral cingulate cortices. Frontal and cingulate atrophy may be involved in the neuropathology of heroin dependence.Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 07/2009; 63(4):563-8. · 2.13 Impact Factor -
Article: Disrupted white matter integrity in heroin dependence: a controlled study utilizing diffusion tensor imaging.
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ABSTRACT: Fractional anisotropy (FA) via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can quantify the white matter integrity. Exposure to addictive drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and nicotine has been shown to alter FA. White matter abnormalities have been shown, but it remains unclear whether the white matter FA is altered in heroin dependence. Utilizing DTI, we investigated the FA difference between heroin-dependent and control subjects by a voxel-based strategy. The FA values of the identified regions were calculated from the FA image of each subject and were correlated with clinical features including months of heroin use, age, education, and dose of methadone. Reduced FA among 16 heroin dependent subjects was located in the bilateral frontal sub-gyral regions, right precentral and left cingulate gyrus. FA in the right frontal sub-gyral was negatively correlated with duration of heroin use. The disrupted white matter integrity in right frontal white matter may occur in continuous heroin abuse.The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 09/2008; 34(5):562-75. · 1.55 Impact Factor -
Article: Positive and negative symptom profile schizophrenia and abnormalities in the P300 component of the event-related potential: a longitudinal controlled study.
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ABSTRACT: The relationship between symptoms of schizophrenia and abnormalities in the P300 component of the event-related potential (ERP) was investigated in 22 and 27 patients diagnosed with positive and negative profile schizophrenia, respectively. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to characterize clinical symptoms. A group of 30 normal controls were also studied. Results showed that patients with schizophrenia exhibited reduced P300 amplitudes compared with controls and that those with negative profile schizophrenia had amplitude decrements and longer latencies. These findings suggest that there are neurobiological differences between positive and negative profile schizophrenia.Psychiatry Research 01/2005; 132(2):131-9. · 2.52 Impact Factor
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Institutions
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2013
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Dodoma University
Dodoma, Dodoma Region, Tanzania
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2008–2011
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The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
Changsha, Hunan, China
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