Possible mechanisms of auricular acupoint stimulation in the treatment of migraine by activating auricular vagus nerve.

Under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine theory, the clinical research of auricular acupoint stimulation in the treatment of migraine has gained a lot, and the curative efficacy is definite, but its mechanism remains unclear. In the present paper, we discussed the efficacy of auricular acupoint stimulation including "transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation" (taVNS) in the treatment of migraine in recent years. Through bibliometric analysis, we screened out top 10 auricular acupoints (Shenmen［TF］, Pizhixia［AT］, Jiaogan［AH］, Gan［CO］, Yidan［CO］, Neifenmi［CO］, Shen［CO］, Nie［AT］, Zhen［AT］ and E［AT］) which were the most frequently used for migraine.

[Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on the splenic α7nAchR/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in LPS-induced depressive-like behavior rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on the improvement of depressive-like behavior and the splenic α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAchR) / Janus kinase 2 (JAK2 / signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive-like behavior rats, so as to investigate the antidepressant mechanism of taVNS.

Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into SD control group, SD model group and SD taVNS group, and α7nAchR knockout rats were also randomly divided into α7 control group, α7 model group and α7 taVNS group, with 6 rats in each group. Rat model of depressive-like behavior was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (1 mg/kg).

[Mechanism of melatonin-mediated antihyperglycemic effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation].

Objective: To observe the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation （taVNS） on plasma melatonin （MLT） content and insulin receptor expression in the liver, the skeletal muscles, and the pancreas of Zucker diabetic fatty （ZDF） rats, so as to explore the hypoglycemic mechanism of taVNS.

Methods: Thirty male ZDF rats were randomly divided into model group, taVNS group and sham-taVNS group, with 10 rats in each group； besides, 10 male Zucker lean rats of the same strain were collected for the blank control group. ZDF rats were fed with high-fat diet to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） rat model.

Acupoint stimulation for long COVID: A promising intervention:

"Long COVID" is a sustained symptom following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). According to recent statistics, at least 65 million people have long COVID, which poses a long-term threat to human health. The pathogenic mechanisms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are complex and affect multiple organs and systems.

[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.

[Paradigm transformation from structural meridians to functional meridians：a hypothesis of "the brain controls the meridians"].

The "meridian" is the core concept of acupuncture medicine. It can be said that almost all the theories and clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion in traditional Chinese medicine are based on this concept. However, up to now, scientists have failed in finding the "meridian" described in Chinese classic textbooks and fall into the dilemma of the meridian essence research.

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.

Does acupuncture therapy affect peripheral inflammatory cytokines of major depressive disorder? A protocol for the systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Acupuncture is widely used as adjuvant therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD). There is robust evidence that inflammation is closely associated with MDD. To date, only a few numbers of studies have investigated the potential relationship between acupuncture and the change of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with MDD.

Electroacupuncture relieves hyperalgesia by regulating neuronal-glial interaction and glutamate transporters of spinal dorsal horns in rats with acute incisional neck pain.

Objective: Glial cells are involved in the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in rats with chronic neurological pain. The objective of this study was to observe the role of neuronal-glial interaction and glutamate (Glu) transporters in EA-induced acute neck pain relief in rats.

Materials And Methods: Male rats were placed into the following five groups: control, model, EA Futu (LI18), EA Hegu (LI4)-Neiguan (PC6), and EA Zusanli (ST36)-Yanglingquan (GB34).

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.

[Influence of electroacupuncture of"Zusanli"(ST36)on mast cells/TRPV1 signaling pathway in visceral hypersensitivity rats with functional dyspepsia].

Objective: To explore the interventional mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli"(ST36)based on the involvement of mast cells/ transient receptor potential vanilloid type1 (TRPV1) signaling pathway in relieving visceral hypersensitivity in functional dyspepsia (FD) rats.

Methods: Sixty SD rats (half male and half female, 10 days in age) were randomly divided into normal control, model, medication (ketotifen) and EA groups, with 15 rats in each group. The FD model was established by gavage of iodoacetamide combined with tail clamping (stress stimulation).

[Effect of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on duodenal mast cells, NGF and NTRK1 in rats with functional dyspepsia].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on duodenal mast cells, nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1 (NTRK1), and to explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) on functional dyspepsia (FD).

Methods: Sixty SPF-grade 10-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a ketotifen group and an EA group, 15 rats in each group. The FD model was prepared by iodoacetamide combined with rat tail clamping method in the model group, the ketotifen group and the EA group.

[Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation promotes gastric motility by up-rgulating α7nAChR and suppressing NF-κB p65 expression in duodenum in rats with functional dyspepsia].

Objective: To study the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on gastric sensitivity and motility in rats with functional dyspepsia (FD), so as to explore its underlying mechanism in improving FD.

Methods: A total of 48 young SD rats were randomly divided into control (=10), model (=9), taVNS (=9), subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve stimulation (SDVNS, =9) and sham SDVNS (=7) groups. The FD model was established by gavage of 0.

[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.

[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.

The mechanisms through which auricular vagus nerve stimulation protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Previous studies have shown that vagus nerve stimulation can improve patients' locomotor function. The stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve, which is the only superficial branch of the vagus nerve, may have similar effects to vagus nerve stimulation. However, the precise mechanisms remain poorly understood.