Prognostic value of CTF1 in glioma and its role in the tumor microenvironment.

Background: Within the realm of primary brain tumors, specifically glioblastoma (GBM), presents a notable obstacle due to their unfavorable prognosis and differing median survival rates contingent upon tumor grade and subtype. Despite a plethora of research connecting cardiotrophin-1 (CTF1) modifications to a range of illnesses, its correlation with glioma remains uncertain. This study investigated the clinical value of CTF1 in glioma and its potential as a biomarker of the disease.

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Insomnia Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence from randomized clinical trials of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for chronic insomnia disorder is lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of taVNS for chronic insomnia compared with the sham taVNS.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This randomized clinical trial was conducted from October 2021 to December 2022 at a single center in Beijing, China.

Transcutaneous electrical cranial-auricular acupoint stimulation versus escitalopram for modulating the brain activity in mild to moderate major depressive disorder: An fMRI study.

Transcutaneous electrical cranial-auricular acupoint stimulation (TECAS) is an innovative, non-invasive therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, its effectiveness and underlying neural mechanisms remain not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the treatment response and neurological effects of TECAS compared to escitalopram, a commonly used depression medication, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation would be an alternative to implantable cervical vagus nerve stimulation in some situation.

Implantable cervical vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS) is a representative and promising neuromodulation. However, the invasive nature restricts its application. Traditional auricular acupuncture treatment has a long history.

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.

Transcutaneous electrical cranial-auricular acupoint stimulation versus escitalopram for mild-to-moderate depression: An assessor-blinded, randomized, non-inferiority trial.

Aim: Transcutaneous electrical cranial-auricular acupoint stimulation (TECAS) is a novel non-invasive therapy that stimulates acupoints innervated by the trigeminal and auricular vagus nerves. An assessor-blinded, randomized, non-inferiority trial was designed to compare the efficacy of TECAS and escitalopram in mild-to-moderate major depressive disorder.

Methods: 468 participants received two TECAS sessions per day at home (n = 233) or approximately 10-13 mg/day escitalopram (n = 235) for 8 weeks plus 4-week follow-up.

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.

The efficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in patients with mild cognitive impairment: A double blinded randomized clinical trial.

Background: There are 9.9 million new cases of dementia in the world every year. Short-term conversion rate from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia is between 20% and 40%, but long-term in 5-10 years ranges from 60% to 100%.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve immediate stimulation treatment for treatment-resistant depression: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Objective: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is effective for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In the current study, we observed the immediate modulating brain effect of taVNS in patients with TRD using rest-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

Method: Forty patients with TRD and forty healthy controls (HCs) were recruited.

[Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on nocturnal autonomic nervous function in primary insomnia patients].

Objective: To observe the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on the sleep quality and nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with primary insomnia.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with primary insomnia were included. Using SDZ-ⅡB electric acupuncture apparatus, Xin (CO) and Shen (CO) were stimulated with disperse-dense wave, 4 Hz/ 20 Hz in frequency, (0.

[Progress of experimental researches on acupuncture intervention for Alzheimer's disease based on SAMP8 mice model].

Alzheimer's disease (AD), also called senile dementia, is a neurodegenerative disease, characterized by progressive memory and cognitive impairment and different degrees of behavior-mental dysfunction. Clinical trials displayed that acupuncture therapy is effective in relieving symptoms of AD patients. In recent years, many experimental studies have been conducted in SAMP8 mice to explore the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in improving AD.

Altered Brain Function in First-Episode and Recurrent Depression: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Background: Studies on differences in brain function activity between the first depressive episode (FDE) and recurrent depressive episodes (RDE) are scarce. In this study, we used regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) as indices of abnormal brain function activity. We aimed to determine the differences in these indices between patients with FDE and those with RDE, and to investigate the correlation between areas of abnormal brain function and clinical symptoms.

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.

Toward Diverse or Standardized: A Systematic Review Identifying Transcutaneous Stimulation of Auricular Branch of the Vagus Nerve in Nomenclature.

Objectives: After 20 years of development, there is confusion in the nomenclature of transcutaneous stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN). We performed a systematic review of transcutaneous stimulation of ABVN in nomenclature.

Materials And Methods: A systematic search of the literature was carried out, using the bibliographic search engine PubMed.

Mechanisms of Acupuncture in Improving Alzheimer's Disease Caused by Mitochondrial Damage.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases among the elderly and it accounts for nearly 80% of all dementias. The pathogenesis of AD is complicated and enigmatic thus far. The mitochondrial cascade hypothesis assumes that mitochondrial damage may mediate, drive, or contribute to a variety of AD pathologies and may be the main factor in late-onset AD.

Acupuncture for brain diseases: Conception, application, and exploration.

The brain is probably the most complex organ in the human body. It has been the hot spot and direction of brain science research all over the world to deeply study the pathogenesis of various kinds of brain diseases and find effective treatment methods. Acupuncture is a nonpharmacological therapy of traditional Chinese medicine originating from ancient clinical practice.

[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.

[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.

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: From Concept to Application.

Whether in the West or the East, the connection between the ear and the rest of the body has been explored for a long time. Especially in the past century or more, the relevant theoretical and applied research on the ear has greatly promoted the development of ear therapy, and finally the concept of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been proposed. The purpose of taVNS is to treat a disease non-invasively by applying electrical current to the cutaneous receptive field formed by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve in the outer ear.