Promising Neuroimaging Biomarkers in Depression

Chien-Han Lai 대한신경정신의학회 2019 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.16 No.9

The neuroimaging has been applied in the study of pathophysiology in major depressive disorder (MDD). In this review article, several kinds of methodologies of neuroimaging would be discussed to summarize the promising biomarkers in MDD. For the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetoencephalography field, the literature review showed the potentially promising roles of frontal lobes, such as anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). In addition, the limbic regions, such as hippocampus and amygdala, might be the potentially promising biomarkers for MDD. The structures and functions of ACC, DLPFC, OFC, amygdala and hippocampus might be confirmed as the biomarkers for the prediction of antidepressant treatment responses and for the pathophysiology of MDD. The functions of cognitive control and emotion regulation of these regions might be crucial for the establishment of biomarkers. The near-infrared spectroscopy studies demonstrated that blood flow in the frontal lobe, such as the DLPFC and OFC, might be the biomarkers for the field of near-infrared spectroscopy. The electroencephalography also supported the promising role of frontal regions, such as the ACC, DLPFC and OFC in the biomarker exploration, especially for the sleep electroencephalogram to detect biomarkers in MDD. The positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in MDD demonstrated the promising biomarkers for the frontal and limbic regions, such as ACC, DLPFC and amygdala. However, additional findings in brainstem and midbrain were also found in PET and SPECT. The promising neuroimaging biomarkers of MDD seemed focused in the fronto-limbic regions.

Fear Network Model in Panic Disorder: The Past and the Future

Chien-Han Lai 대한신경정신의학회 2019 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.16 No.1

The core concept for pathophysiology in panic disorder (PD) is the fear network model (FNM). The alterations in FNM might be linked with disturbances in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is a common phenomenon in PD. The traditional FNM included the frontal and limbic regions, which were dysregulated in the feedback mechanism for cognitive control of frontal lobe over the primitive response of limbic system. The exaggerated responses of limbic system are also associated with dysregulation in the neurotransmitter system. The neuroimaging studies also corresponded to FNM concept. However, more extended areas of FNM have been discovered in recent imaging studies, such as sensory regions of occipital, parietal cortex and temporal cortex and insula. The insula might integrate the filtered sensory information via thalamus from the visuospatial and other sensory modalities related to occipital, parietal and temporal lobes. In this review article, the traditional and advanced FNM would be discussed. I would also focus on the current evidences of insula, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes in the pathophysiology. In addition, the white matter and functional connectome studies would be reviewed to support the concept of advanced FNM. An emerging dysregulation model of fronto-limbic-insula and temporo-occipitoparietal areas might be revealed according to the combined results of recent neuroimaging studies. The future delineation of advanced FNM model can be beneficial from more extensive and advanced studies focusing on the additional sensory regions of occipital, parietal and temporal cortex to confirm the role of advanced FNM in the pathophysiology of PD.

Thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology in Taiwan: a nationwide survey and literature update

Chien-Chin Chen,Jen-Fan Hang,Chih-Yi Liu,Yeh-Han Wang,Chiung-Ru Lai 대한병리학회 2020 Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine Vol.54 No.5

In Taiwan, thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology is easily accessible and reliable for evaluating thyroid nodules. The sonographic pattern plays a major role and is the deciding factor for aspiration. We conducted a nationwide survey in 2017 and it revealed that 31% of laboratories had adopted The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. There was a relatively high unsatisfactory rate (24.04%) and low rates of indeterminate diagnoses, including atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesions of undetermined significance: 4.87%, and follicular neoplasm/suspicious for a follicular neoplasm: 0.35%. Moreover, the risks of malignancy in benign, atypia of undetermined significance, and suspicious for a follicular neoplasm were relatively high. These may reflect strict diagnostic criteria for indeterminate categories and better patient selection for surgery. Improvements in specimen sampling and continuing education programs are crucial. Newly-developed thyroid cytology technologies, such as immunocytochemistry, molecular testing, and computerized cytomorphometry, may further facilitate cytology diagnoses.

Resource Management in 5G Mobile Networks: Survey and Challenges

Wei-Che Chien,Shih-Yun Huang,Chin-Feng Lai,Han-Chieh Chao 한국정보처리학회 2020 Journal of information processing systems Vol.16 No.4

With the rapid growth of network traffic, a large number of connected devices, and higher application services, the traditional network is facing several challenges. In addition to improving the current network architecture and hardware specifications, effective resource management means the development trend of 5G. Althoughmany existing potential technologies have been proposed to solve the some of 5G challenges, such as multipleinput multipleoutput (MIMO), softwaredefined networking (SDN), network functions virtualization (NFV), edge computing, millimeterwave, etc., research studies in 5G continue to enrich its function and move toward B5G mobile networks. In this paper, focusing on the resource allocation issues of 5G core networks and radio access networks, we address the latest technological developments and discuss the current challenges for resource management in 5G.

Are cities dissipative structures?

Shih-Kung Lai,Haoying Han,Po-Chien Ko 서울시립대학교 도시과학연구원 2013 도시과학국제저널 Vol.17 No.1

The new emergent paradigm of urban development theory that is based on complexity sciences allows us to understand and analyse cities in a newway. Theoretically, complexity sciences enable us to depict the fundamental characteristics of urban development,including nonlinearity, self-organization, and emergence. Empirically, the agent-based modelling (ABM) approach can help us to conduct simulations of complex systems,including cities, in an effective way. In the present paper, we demonstrate a computer simulation of urban growth based on the spatial garbage can model represented in an ABM framework. In the simulation, we treated the city as an open system in that the fundamental elements of the system flow in and out of the system over time. We then computed over time the levels of entropy as a measurement of the degree of structural order of the systems, namely, decision and spatial structures. The results showed that these entropies decreased over time, indicating that the city self-organizes itself reminiscent of a dissipative structure.

The Accompanying Changes in Brain Structure of a Remitted Depression Patient with the Bupropion Treatment

Yi-Cheng Hou,Chien-Han Lai 대한정신약물학회 2015 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.13 No.3

The impacts from the bupropion on the brain structures have seldom been mentioned in the literature. The bupropion is a kind of antidepressant with dual action in the norepinephrine and dopamine receptors. Here we have a case to share about the bupropion-related effects in the brain structure.

The Relief Effects of Ramelteon on Refractory Chronic Migraine: A Case Report

Yi-Cheng Hou1,Chien-Han Lai 대한정신약물학회 2016 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.14 No.4

The selective melatonin receptor agonism effect of ramelteon is useful for insomnia. Here we wanted to present a refractory chronic migraine case, who had significant improvements in migraine after using ramelteon. The possible mechanism for the ramelteon in the migraine relief might be related to melatonin effects.

Late-onset Quetiapine-related Tardive Dyskinesia Side Effects in a Patient with Psychotic Depression

Yi-Cheng Hou,Chien-Han Lai 대한정신약물학회 2014 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.12 No.2

The atypical antipsychotics were believed to induce less extrapyramidal syndrome, including tardive dyskinesia (TD). Since theintroduction of the quetiapine, it is also reported with less TD side effects. It even can relieve the symptoms of severe TD andreduce the risk of TD. The quetiapine’s low affinity and fast dissociation from postsynaptic dopamine D2 receptors should givethe least risk of producing the symptoms of TD. The quetiapine even can reduce the TD side effects related to clozapine, whichhas the lowest risk for TD. However, since the first case report of TD side effects related to quetiapine published on 1999,the safety of quetiapine in TD aspect has been questioned. Therefore, we want to share this case report, which was writtento describe the severe late-onset TD side effects after long-term use of quetiapine in a patient with psychotic depression. Thepatient had no significant findings after concurrent comprehensive neurological examinations, magnetic resonance imaging ofbrain and electroencephalogram since the onset of TD.