Effects of multisession prefrontal cortex tDCS or taVNS on stress, perceived stress and sleep quality: a double-blind, randomized controlled study.

Introduction: Chronic stress is a condition characterized by prolonged stimulation, leading to mental and physical weakness. It can have detrimental effects on individuals' mental health and cognitive function, potentially causing various health issues. This article explores the potential of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, specifically transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), in managing chronic stress and improving sleep quality.

A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies.

This research delves into the consequences of consistent pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring to ascertain its long-term implications for pain sensitivity. The primary objective of this protocol was to investigate the impact of neonatal pinprick stimuli on the pain threshold in the later stages of life using a preterm rat model. By establishing this model, we aim to advance the research on understanding and managing early postnatal pain associated with prematurity.

Effect of Systemic and Auricular Acupuncture with a 2/100 Hz Frequency and Nogier Frequency in Fibromyalgia: a Randomized Clinical Trial, Pilot Study.

Background: Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of chronic, generalized muscular pain, accompanied by sleep disturbances, fatigue and cardic autonomic dysfunction that will affect the quality of life. There is currently no gold standard treatment. There are limitations of studies with electroacupuncture in auricular acupuncture.

Effects of repetitive pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring: Alterations in nociceptive responses and inflammatory hypersensitivity in adulthood.

Introduction: This study investigates the effects of repetitive pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring and its impact on nociceptive responses and inflammatory hypersensitivity in adulthood.

Objectives: The objective is to shed light on the potential long-term consequences of neonatal pain and prematurity on sensory processing.

Methods: Term and preterm rats were subjected to repetitive pinprick (PP) stimulation or control (CC) during the neonatal period.

Participation of Potential Transient Receptors in the Antinociceptive Effect of Pharmacopuncture.

Background: Despite the widespread clinical use of acupuncture in painful situations, the use of this treatment should be further clarified. Nociception is mediated by the activation of nociceptors, such as transient receptor potentials (TRPs). The family of TRPs includes TRPV1, TRPM8, and TRPA1, which can be stimulated by substances such as capsaicin, menthol, and methyl salicylate, respectively.

Electroacupuncture reduces weight, skinfold thickness and waist circumference and increases skin temperature of the abdominal region in women: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Acupuncture, as a complementary and alternative medical treatment, has shown some promise as a therapeutic option for obesity and weight control. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on body weight, body mass index (BMI), skin fold thickness, waist circumference and skin temperature of the abdominal region in non-obese women with excessive abdominal subcutaneous fat.

Methods: A total of 50 women with excessive abdominal subcutaneous fat (and average BMI of 22) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: an EA group (n = 25) receiving 10 EA sessions (insertion of needles connected to an electrical stimulator at a frequency of 40 Hz for 40 min) and a control group (n = 25) that received no treatment.

Infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex alters electroacupuncture effect in animals with neuropathic chronic pain.

Introduction: Morphological reorganization in the neural networks of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) may be involved in the development of chronic neuropathic pain (NP).

Objectives: We investigated whether inactivation and neurostimulation of the infralimbic division (IFL) of the mPFC alter electroacupuncture-induced analgesia (EIA) at 2 Hz and 2/100 Hz in animals with chronic NP.

Methods: Wistar rats were submitted to chronic constrictor injury of the ischiadicus nerve (CCI).

Electroacupuncture modulates cortical excitability in a manner dependent on the parameters used.

Introduction: There is evidence that electroacupuncture (EA) acts through the modulation of brain activity, but little is known about its influence on corticospinal excitability of the primary motor cortex (M1).

Objective: To investigate the influence of EA parameters on the excitability of M1 in healthy individuals.

Methods: A parallel, double blind, randomized controlled trial in healthy subjects, evaluating the influence of an EA intervention on M1 excitability.

Repeated neonatal needle-prick stimulation increases inflammatory mechanical hypersensitivity in adult rats.

Background And Aims: Newborn infants are vulnerable to procedural stress and pain exposure on the first weeks of life that represents a critical period for the development of nociceptive, sensory, emotional, and social functions. We evaluated the nociceptive behavior of adult male and female rats that were submitted to nociceptive experience in the neonatal period and the maternal behavior in the postnatal period.

Methods: The animals were submitted to repetitive needle pricking from the second to the fifteenth postnatal day (PND 2-15).

Effects of Acupuncture at the Yintang and the Chengjiang Acupoints on Cardiac Arrhythmias and Neurocardiogenic Syncope in Emergency First Aid.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of YinTang and ChengJiang acupoints on patients with cardiac arrhythmia and neurocardiogenic syncope in emergency first aid. A 45 year old woman underwent acupuncture. She had a previous history of a valvuloplasty for rheumatic disease and two acute myocardial infarctions, followed by four catheterizations and an angioplasty.

Electroacupuncture at 2/100 hz activates antinociceptive spinal mechanisms different from those activated by electroacupuncture at 2 and 100 hz in responder rats.

We examined the effects of intrathecal injection of desipramine and fluoxetine (selective inhibitors of norepinephrine and 5-HT uptake, resp.), thiorphan and neostigmine (inhibitors of enkephalinase and acetylcholinesterase, resp.), gabapentin (a GABA releaser), and vigabatrin (an inhibitor of GABA-transaminase) on the antinociception induced by 2 Hz, 100 Hz, or 2/100 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) applied bilaterally to the Zusanli (ST36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoints using the rat tail-flick test.