Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40325400›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2025

Molecular mechanisms explaining sex-specific functional connectivity changes in chronic insomnia disorder.

Liyong Yu, Zhifu Shen, Wei Wei, Zeyang Dou, Yucai Luo, Daijie Hu, Wenting Lin, Guangli Zhao, Xiaojuan Hong, Siyi Yu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Liyong Yu *School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.37 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China.
Zhifu Shen *Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.
Wei WeiSchool of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.37 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China.
Zeyang DouSchool of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.37 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China.
Yucai LuoSchool of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.37 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China.
Daijie HuSchool of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.37 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China.
Wenting LinSchool of Rehabilitation and Health Preservation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Guangli ZhaoSchool of Rehabilitation and Health Preservation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Xiaojuan HongSchool of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.37 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China.
Siyi YuSchool of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.37 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, China. cdutcmysy@gmail.com.

Funding

Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Xinglin Scholar Discipline Talent Research and Improvement Plan QJRC2022036National Natural Science Foundation of China 82305415National Natural Science Foundation of China 82374590
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study investigates the hypothesis that chronic insomnia disorder (CID) is characterized by sex-specific changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC), with certain molecular mechanisms potentially influencing CID's pathophysiology by altering rsFC in relevant networks.

methodsUtilizing a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) dataset of 395 participants, including 199 CID patients and 196 healthy controls, we examined sex-specific rsFC effects, particularly in the default mode network (DMN) and five insomnia-genetically vulnerable regions of interest (ROIs). By integrating gene expression data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas, we identified genes linked to these sex-specific rsFC alterations and conducted enrichment analysis to uncover underlying molecular mechanisms. Additionally, we simulated the impact of sex differences in rsFC with different sex compositions in our dataset and employed machine learning classifiers to distinguish CID from healthy controls based on sex-specific rsFC data.

resultsWe identified both shared and sex-specific rsFC changes in the DMN and the five genetically vulnerable ROIs, with gene expression variations associated with these sex-specific connectivity differences. Enrichment analysis highlighted genes involved in synaptic signaling, ion channels, and immune function as potential contributors to CID pathophysiology through their influence on connectivity. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that different sex compositions significantly affect study outcomes and higher diagnostic performance in sex-specific rsFC data than combined sex.

conclusionsThis study uncovered both shared and sex-specific connectivity alterations in CID, providing molecular insights into its pathophysiology and suggesting considering sex differences in future fMRI-based diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Indexed as

BrainSex CharacteristicsSleep Initiation and Maintenance DisordersAdultCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedSex FactorsChronic insomniaDefault mode networkFunctional connectivityMachine learningSex-specific effectsTranscriptional signatures

Identifiers

PMID40325400
PMCPMC12054257

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.