Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Modulating the Brain Topological Architecture of Functional Network in Major Depressive Disorder: An fMRI Study.

Background: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is effective in regulating mood and high-level cognition in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of taVNS treatment in patients with MDD and an altered brain topological organization of functional networks.

Methods: Nineteen patients with MDD were enrolled in this study.

Altered functional brain activity in first-episode major depressive disorder treated with electro-acupuncture: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Previous studies have found electroacupuncture could improve the clinical symptoms of first-episode major depressive disorder (MDD), but the exact neural mechanism of action needs to be further elucidated.

Methods: Twenty-eight first-episode MDD patients were randomly divided into 14 electro-acupuncture stimulation (EAS) groups and 14 sham-acupuncture stimulation (SAS) groups, and clinical symptoms were assessed and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were done in both groups. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) was used to observe the changes between the pre-treatment and post-treatment in the two groups, and the altered brain areas were selected as region of interest (ROI) to observe the FC changes.

[Analysis of influence of MR signs on Harris score in ARCO stages 2-4 femoral head necrosis].

Objective: To analysis and determine MR signs of Harris score ARCO stages 2-4 in osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH).

Methods: Thirty-four patients with ONFH of ARCO stages 2 to 4 who underwent routine MR, T2 mapping, 3D-SPACE sequence examination and Harris score were retrospectively collected from January 2019 to June 2020, and 3 patients were excluded, and 31 patients were finally included, including 23 males and 8 females, aged from 18 to 62 years old with an average of(40.0±10.

[Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on functional connectivity in the related brain regions of patients with depression based on the resting-state fMRI].

Objective: To explore the brain effect mechanism and the correlation between brain functional imaging and cognitive function in treatment of depressive disorder (DD) with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) based on the resting-state functional magenetic reasonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

Methods: Thirty-two DD patients were included in a depression group and 32 subjects of healthy condition were enrolled in a normal group. In the depression group, the taVNS was applied to bilateral Xin (CO) and Shen (CO), at disperse-dense wave, 4 Hz/20 Hz in frequency and current intensity ≤20 mA depending on patient's tolerance, 30 min each time, twice daily.

Prolonged Longitudinal Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Effect on Striatal Functional Connectivity in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder.

Background: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is effective for treating major depressive disorder (MDD). We aimed to explore the modulating effect of prolonged longitudinal taVNS on the striatal subregions' functional connectivity (FC) in MDD patients.

Methods: Sixteen MDD patients were enrolled and treated with taVNS for 8 weeks.

The pro-inflammatory factors contribute to the EEG microstate abnormalities in patients with major depressive disorder.

Pro-inflammatory factors may be associated with abnormalities in functional brain networks, which may be a mechanism in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Electroencephalogram (EEG) microstates reflect the functioning of brain networks. However, the relationship between pro-inflammatory factors and the microstate abnormalities in patients with MDD is poorly understood.

A Comparative Study of Regional Homogeneity of Resting-State fMRI Between the Early-Onset and Late-Onset Recurrent Depression in Adults.

Background: Neurobiological mechanisms underlying the recurrence of major depressive disorder (MDD) at different ages are unclear, and this study used the regional homogeneity (ReHo) index to compare whether there are differences between early onset recurrent depression (EORD) and late onset recurrent depression (LORD).

Methods: Eighteen EORD patients, 18 LORD patients, 18 young healthy controls (HCs), and 18 older HCs were included in the rs-fMRI scans. ReHo observational metrics were used for image analysis and further correlation of differential brain regions with clinical symptoms was analyzed.

[Modulation of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on default mode network in patients with primary insomnia].

Objective: To explore the modulation of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on default mode network (DMN) in patients with primary insomnia (PI).

Methods: A total of 22 PI patients (one patient dropped off and two patients were excluded) were included and treated with taVNS. The bilateral auricular points of Xin (CO) and Shen (CO) were selected and treated with disperse-dense wave at frequency of 4 Hz/20 Hz, the intensity was based on the patient's tolerance.

Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Ameliorates Functional Dyspepsia with Depressive-Like Behavior and Inhibits the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in a Rat Model.

Background: The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis is the most important endocrine system to control irritability response. Functional dyspepsia (FD) is closely related to irritability. This study aimed to preliminarily explore the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) mechanism of auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) for FD model rats.

[Functional MRI-based study on neuromechanism of trans-auricular vagus nerve stimulation for treatment-resistant depression].

Objective: To explore the neuromechanism of trans-auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for treatment-resistant depression(TRD) based on functional brain network.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with TRD were recruited from the psychiatric clinic or by the advertisement. The patients were treated by taVNS (5 Hz/20 Hz, 4-8 mA) at the auricular concha for 30 min, twice daily for 8 weeks.

Effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on brain functional connectivity of medial prefrontal cortex in patients with primary insomnia.

As a representative of acupuncture and nonpharmaceutical therapy, auricular acupuncture has been widely for the treatment of insomnia. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a combination of auricular point stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation. It can not only treat primary insomnia effectively, but also is noninvasive, painless, portable and economical.

[Effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on autonomic nervous function in rats with functional dyspepsia].

Objective: To observe the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on the autonomic nerve function in a rat model of functional dyspepsia (FD), so as to explore the mechanism of taVNS underlying regulation of FD.

Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group(n=8) and FD model group(n=26).The FD model was replicated with iodoacetamide gavage.

[Closed-loop neuromodulation technique brings new opportunities and challenges to acupuncture and moxibustion therapies].

In recent years, the newly appeared closed-loop neuromodulation technique composed of closed-loop controlled stimulation system and neuromodulation is the product of medicine and inter-disciplines. In medical clinical practice, the idea of closed-loop controlled stimulation can be seen everywhere. When both the patient and acupuncturist achieve the state of "" simultaneously, it is a kind of feedback adjustment process similar to that of the closed-loop stimulation system.

[Instant adjustive effect of auricular electroacupuncture on brain default model network of patients with primary insomnia].

Objective: To investigate the immediate brain effect of auricular electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of primary insomnia (PI).

Methods: In this study, 15 subjects with PI who were diagnosed according to Pitsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and other 15 age- and gender-matched subjects without insomnia were recruited in the present study. The PI patients received EA (4 Hz/20 Hz, a tolerable electrical current strength) of auricular concha for 30 min, and their resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data before and after treatment were collected.

[Correlation between blood oxygen level dependent fMRI signal and GABA content in anterior cingulate cortex after acupuncture of Hegu (LI4)].

Objective: To explore the correlation between blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) signal and neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration in the prefrontal cortex area after acupuncture or Von Frey filament stimulation (epidermal stimulation) at the right Hegu (LI4).

Methods: A total of 76 healthy volunteers (23 men and 53 women, 24.5±1.

Effects of acupuncture on craving after tobacco cessation: a resting-state fMRI study based on the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation.

Background: To explore the immediate effects and mechanism of acupuncture on craving after tobacco cessation based on the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF).

Methods: This was a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. Forty participants were recruited and divided into a smoking group and a non-smoking group, 20 cases in each one.

Increased Posterior Insula-Sensorimotor Connectivity Is Associated with Cognitive Function in Healthy Participants with Sleep Complaints.

Insomnia is characterized by sensory hypersensitivity and cognitive impairments. Recent work has identified the insula as a central brain region involved in both bottom-up gating of sensory information and top-down cognitive control. However, the specific relationships between insular subregion connectivity and emotional and cognitive functions remain unclear.

The functional and structural alterations of the striatum in chronic spontaneous urticaria.

The brain has long been known to be the regulation center of itch, but the neuropathology of chronic itch, such as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to explore the brain areas involved in the pathophysiology of CSU in hopes that our results may provide valuable insights into the treatment of chronic itch conditions. 40 CSU patients and 40 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited.

[Effect of Needle Embedded in Neiguan (PC6) on Changes of ECG in Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Model Mini-pigs].

Objective To observe the effect of needle embedded in Neiguan (PC6) on electro- cardiogram (ECG) changes in model mini-pigs with chronic myocardial ischemia. Methods The protein shrink narrow ring (Ameroid Ring) was placed in the proximal part of the left coronary anterior descend- ing branch of 12 Chinese mini-pigs to prepare animal model. One died during the modeling.

Effects of electroacupuncture at auricular concha region on the depressive status of unpredictable chronic mild stress rat models.

To explore new noninvasive treatment options for depression, this study investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the auricular concha region (ACR) of depression rat models. Depression in rats was induced by unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) combined with isolation for 21 days. Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups: normal, UCMS alone, UCMS with EA-ACR treatment, and UCMS with EA-ear-tip treatment.