Authors: XU, Han-qiu | CHEN, Ben-qing
Article Type: Research Article
Abstract: World-wide urbanization has significantly modified the landscape, which has important climatic implications across all scales due to the simultaneous removal of natural land cover and introduction of urban materials. This resulted in a phenomenon known as an urban heat island (UHI). A study on the UHI in Xiamen of China was carried out using remote sensing technology. Satellite thermal infrared images were used to determine surface radiant temperatures. Thermal remote sensing data were obtained from band 6 of two Landsat TM/ETM^+ images of 1989 and 2000 to observe the UHI changes over 1 1-year period. The thermal infrared bands were …processed through several image enhancement technologies. This generated two 3-dimension-perspective images of Xiamen's urban heat island in 1989 and 2000, respectively, and revealed heat characteristics and spatial distribution features of the UHI. To find out the change of the UHI between 1989 and 2000, the two thermal images were first normalized and scaled to seven grades to reduce seasonal difference and then overlaid to produce a difference image by subtracting corresponding pixels. The difference image showed an evident development of the urban heat island in the 11 years. This change was due largely to the urban expansion with a consequent alteration in the ratio of sensible heat flux to latent heat flux. To quantitatively compare UHI, an index called Urban-Heat-Island Ratio Index (URI) was created. It can reveal the intensity of the UHI within the urban area. The calculation of the index was based on the ratio of UHI area to urban area. The greater the index, the more intense the UHI was. The calculation of the index for the Xiamen City indicated that the ratio of UHI area to urban area in 2000 was less than that in 1989. High temperatures in several areas in 1989 were reduced or just disappeared, such as those in old downtown area and Gulangyu Island. For the potential mitigation of the UHI in Xiamen, a long-term heat island reduction strategy of planting shade trees and using light-colored, highly reflective roof and paving materials should be included in the plans of the city planers, environmental managers and other decision-makers to improve the overall urban environment in the future. Show more
Keywords: remote sensing, urban heat island, urban-heat-island ratio index, digital brightness model, Xiamen City
Citation: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 276-281, 2004
Authors: Kroll, Penny G. | Machado, Lisa | Happy, Colleen | Leong, Susan | Chen, Ben
Article Type: Research Article
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between five common methods of measuring isometric trunk strength and endurance: Isometric flexion and extension tests, an upright lifting task, and timed isometric flexion and extension endurance tests. Fifty-six healthy individuals (aged 18–65 years) with no history of back problems or disease volunteered for this study. Data were analyzed using a Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Student’s T-test. Significant relationships (p < 0.0001 ) were found between the B-200 isometric extension and upright pull (r = 0.75 ); B-200 isometric flexion and upright pull (r = 0.78 ); and …B-200 isometric flexion and B-200 isometric extension (r = 0.80 ). Men demonstrated greater strength than women in B-200 isometric flexion and extension, as well as in the upright pull measures (p < 0.05 ). A variety of measures are frequently used to evaluate trunk “strength” in force production and endurance. Although strong correlation was observed among measures of force, no significant relationships were demonstrated between endurance and force measures. This suggests that a subject who demonstrates a strong performance on strength test of force may not necessarily display an equally strong performance on a strength test of endurance. Hence, to obtain a full picture of a person’s performance capabilities, measures of both force and endurance should be incorporated into evaluation protocols. Show more
Keywords: trunk, endurance, isometric, force, measures, relationship
DOI: 10.3233/BMR-2000-14303
Citation: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 89-97, 2000
Authors: Chen, Ben | Espin, Melanie | Haussmann, Robert | Matthes, Claudia | Donix, Markus | Hummel, Thomas | Haehner, Antje
Article Type: Research Article
Abstract: Background: The olfactory system is affected very early in Alzheimer’s disease and olfactory loss can already be observed in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of AD. Objective: The aim of this randomized, prospective, controlled, blinded study was to evaluate whether olfactory training (OT) may have an effect on olfactory function, cognitive impairment, and brain activation in MCI patients after a 4-month period of frequent short-term exposure to various odors. Methods: A total of 38 MCI outpatients were randomly assigned to OT or a control training condition, which were performed twice a day for 4 months. Olfactory …testing, comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, and a passive odor perception task based on magnetic resonance imaging were performed before and after training. Results: The results suggested that OT exhibited no significant effect on olfaction and cognitive function. Additionally, OT exhibited a positive effect on frontal lobe activation (left middle frontal gyrus and orbital-frontal cortex) but exhibited no effect on grey matter volume. Moreover, the change of olfactory scores was positively associated with the change of frontal activation. Conclusion: OT was found to have a limited effect on olfaction and cognition in patients with MCI compared to a non-OT condition but increased their functional response to odors in frontal area. Show more
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, functional MRI, grey matter, mild cognitive impairment, olfactory training
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-215257
Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 85, no. 2, pp. 745-754, 2022
Authors: Chen, Ben | Zhong, Xiaomei | Mai, Naikeng | Peng, Qi | Zhang, Min | Chen, Xinru | Wu, Zhangying | Zou, Laiquan | Liang, Wanyuan | Ouyang, Cong | Wu, Yujie | Ning, Yuping
Article Type: Research Article
Abstract: Olfactory identification (OI) deficits have been regarded as an indicator of cognitive impairment in the elderly, but few studies have analyzed the mixed effect of depression on OI. Since depression is common in the elderly and strongly associated with OI, we aimed to explore whether the comorbidity of depression and cognitive impairment may be associated with worse outcomes. In total, 153 elderly patients with depression and 154 normal elderly were recruited. Subjects underwent assessments of depression, cognitive function, and OI. Information on the factors that may affect OI performance was collected (age, sex, smoking history, diabetes, etc.). Correlation analysis showed …that several factors had a significant influence on OI performance in the elderly, including severity of depression, cognitive scores, age, sex, and years of education (p < 0.05). Among the different cognitive domains, OI was positively associated with global cognition, memory, language, executive function, and attention performance (p < 0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that memory scores, age, HAMD scores, and sex were the most relevant factors to OI scores across all elderly participants. The factorial analysis suggested that elderly with comorbidity of depression and cognitive impairment (memory deficits or language deficits) had worse OI impairment, and there was an interactive effect of depression and memory deficits on OI in elderly people. The present study suggested that the coexistence of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment was associated with worse OI in the elderly. Studies exploring the association between OI and cognitive function should include an assessment of depression and adjust the interactive effects of depression. Show more
Keywords: Cognition, depression, geriatric, neuropsychology, olfactory
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-180760
Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 66, no. 4, pp. 1645-1655, 2018
Authors: Haehner, Antje | Chen, Ben | Espin, Melanie | Haussmann, Robert | Matthes, Claudia | Desser, Dmitriy | Loessner, Lorenz | Brandt, Moritz D. | Donix, Markus | Hummel, Thomas
Article Type: Research Article
Abstract: Background: The olfactory system is affected early in Alzheimer’s disease and olfactory loss can already be observed in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Olfactory training is effective for improving olfactory and cognitive function by stimulating the olfactory pathway, but its effect on patients with MCI remains unclear. Objective: The aim of this randomized, prospective, controlled, blinded study was to assess whether a 4-month period of olfactory training (frequent short-term sniffing various odors) may have an effect on olfactory function, cognitive function, and morphology of medial temporal lobe (MTL) subregions and olfactory bulb in MCI patients. Methods: A total of …thirty-seven MCI patients were randomly assigned to the training group or a placebo group, which were performed twice a day for 4 months. Olfactory assessments, cognitive tests and magnetic resonance imaging were performed at the baseline and follow-up period. Results: After the training, there was an increase in odor discrimination, and increased cortical thickness of bilateral hippocampus (CA23DG and CA1) and mean MTL. Additionally, the change of olfactory score was positively associated with change of volume of olfactory bulb and hippocampus; the change of global cognition was positively associated with change of cortical thickness of hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and mean MTL; the change of cortical thickness of entorhinal cortex was positively associated with change of executive function. Conclusion: Olfactory training was associated with an increase in cortical thickness of the hippocampus but not olfactory bulb volume in patients with MCI. Olfactory training may serve as an early intervention of preventing hippocampal atrophy. Show more
Keywords: Cortical thickness, hippocampus, mild cognitive impairment, olfactory bulb, olfactory training
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220248
Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 88, no. 2, pp. 743-755, 2022
Authors: Wang, Qiang | Chen, Ben | Zhong, Xiaomei | Zhou, Huarong | Zhang, Min | Mai, Naikeng | Wu, Zhangying | Huang, Xingxiao | Haehner, Antje | Chen, Xinru | Auber, Lavinia Alberi | Peng, Qi | Hummel, Thomas | Ning, Yuping
Article Type: Research Article
Abstract: Background: Odor identification dysfunction occurs early in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is considered a preclinical symptom along with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Nevertheless, whether subjects with SCD are co-symptomatic with odor identification dysfunction remains unclear. Objective: To compare the degree of odor identification dysfunction and assess the relation between odor identification and cognitive performance in the AD spectrum (including SCD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD). Methods: Patients (84 SCD, 129 MCI, 52 AD) and 35 controls underwent the Sniffin’ Sticks Screen 16 test and comprehensive neuropsychological examination. Results: Odor identification scores were progressively lower moving from normal older adult …to SCD, MCI, and AD. Additionally,the proportion of odor identification dysfunction were increasingly higher in the AD spectrum (p for trend <0.001), but no significant difference was found in the proportion of subjective olfactory dysfunction. No significant correlation was found between odor identification and cognition in the normal older adults and SCD subjects, but odor identification correlated with global cognition in the MCI (r = 0.199, p = 0.033) and in the AD (r = 0.300, p = 0.036) patients. Multiple linear regression showed that odor identification dysfunction was most strongly associated with memory among different cognitive subdomains and was most strongly associated with immediate verbal recall among different memory subdomains. Conclusion: Odor identification dysfunction is already present with SCD and deepens with disease severity in the AD spectrum, and it may contribute to predicting cognitive decline and identifying SCD subjects who are at risk of developing AD. Show more
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, neuropsychology, olfactory dysfunction, subjective cognitive decline
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201168
Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 79, no. 2, pp. 585-595, 2021
Authors: Yang, Mingfeng | Chen, Ben | Zhou, Huarong | Mai, Naikeng | Zhang, Min | Wu, Zhangying | Peng, Qi | Wang, Qiang | Liu, Meiling | Zhang, Si | Lin, Gaohong | Lao, Jingyi | Zeng, Yijie | Zhong, Xiaomei | Ning, Yuping
Article Type: Research Article
Abstract: Background: Both late-life depression (LLD) and short sleep duration increase the risk of cognitive impairment. Increased insular resting-state functional connectivity (FC) has been reported in individuals with short sleep duration and dementia. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether short sleep duration is associated with impaired cognition and higher insular FC in patients with LLD. Methods: This case– control study recruited 186 patients with LLD and 83 normal controls (NC), and comprehensive psychometric assessments, sleep duration reports and resting-state functional MRI scans (81 LLD patients and 54 NC) were conducted. Results: Patients with LLD and short sleep duration (LLD-SS patients) …exhibited more severe depressive symptoms and worse cognitive function than those with normal sleep duration (LLD-NS patients) and NC. LLD-SS patients exhibited higher FC between the bilateral insula and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) pars triangularis than LLD-NS patients and NC, while LLD-NS patients exhibited lower FC than NC. Increased insular FC was correlated with short sleep duration, severe depressive symptoms, and slower information processing speeds. Furthermore, an additive effect was found between sleep duration and LLD on global cognition and insular FC. Conclusion: LLD-SS patients exhibited impaired cognition and increased insular FC. Abnormal FC in LLD-SS patients may be a therapeutic target for neuromodulation to improve sleep and cognitive performance and thus decrease the risk of dementia. Show more
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive impairment, functional connectivity, late-life depression, MRI, sleep duration
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220968
Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 93, no. 4, pp. 1317-1327, 2023
Authors: Zhang, Min | Zhong, Xiaomei | Shi, Haishan | Vanmechelen, Eugeen | De Vos, Ann | Liu, Sen | Chen, Ben | Mai, Naikeng | Peng, Qi | Chen, Xinru | Wu, Zhangying | Hou, Le | Zhou, Huarong | Ouyang, Cong | Zhang, Weiru | Liang, Wanyuan | Dai, Chunying | Ning, Yuping
Article Type: Research Article
Abstract: Background: Patients with spirochetal infection, which causes neurosyphilis (NS) and at a later stage general paresis of the insane (GPI), present with brain pathology features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the relationships among these illnesses regarding biomarker levels are still unclear. Objective: To explore biomarker levels in NS and GPI compared with those in AD and the relationship between biomarker levels and cognitive function in NS and GPI. Methods: Levels of neurogranin (NGRN) and β-amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE1) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/plasma, together with amyloid-β 1–40 (Aβ40 ), Aβ42 , and total tau in the CSF of 23 …AD patients, 55 GPI patients, and 13 NS patients were measured. Patients were classified into none-to-mild, moderate, and severe stages of cognitive impairment. Results: Levels of CSF NGRN, BACE1, and tau as well as plasma BACE1 levels were significantly different among groups. In the none-to-mild stage, plasma BACE1 levels correlated with the protein levels in CSF and were significantly increased in AD patients versus GPI patients. The CSF tau levels in AD patients were significantly increased versus GPI patients in the moderate and severe stages. Pooling data from GPI and NS patients, both CSF tau and plasma NGRN levels correlated with cognitive scale scores. Conclusion: GPI and NS patients might have different biomarker level patterns compared to AD patients. While plasma BACE1 could be a promising early biomarker for distinguishing AD from GPI, CSF tau and plasma NGRN levels might be valuable in indications of cognitive function in pooled NS populations. Show more
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, BACE1, general paresis of insane, neurogranin, neurosyphilis
DOI: 10.3233/JAD-200362
Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 77, no. 1, pp. 313-322, 2020
