Phonon mode at interface and its impact on interfacial thermal transport.

Due to the minimization and integration of micro/nano-devices, the high density of interfaces becomes a significant challenge in various applications. Phonon modes at interface resulting from the mismatch between inhomogeneous functional counterparts are crucial for interfacial thermal transport and overall thermal management of micro/nano-devices, making it a topic of great research interest recently. Here, we comprehensively review the recent advances on the theoretical and experimental investigations of interfacial phonon mode and its impact on interfacial thermal transport. Firstly, we summarize the recent progresses of the theoretical and experimental characterization of interfacial phonon modes at various interfaces, along with the overview of the development of diverse methodologies. Then, the impact of interfacial phonon modes on interfacial thermal transport process are discussed from the normal modal decomposition and inelastic scattering mechanisms. Meanwhile, we examine various factors influencing the interfacial phonon modes and interfacial thermal transport, including temperature, interface roughness, interfacial mass gradient, interfacial disorder, and so on. Finally, an outlook is provided for future studies. This review provides a fundamental understanding of interfacial phonon modes and its impact on interfacial thermal transport, which would be beneficial for the exploration and optimization of thermal management in various micro/nano-devices with high density interfaces. .

Disseminated Acanthamoeba castellanii infection in a patient with AIDS: a case report and literature review.

Background: Acanthamoeba castellanii infection is a rare condition primarily occurring in immunocompromised patients with extremely high mortality. Currently, there is no standard treatment for this condition, and successful treatment reports are scarce. Case presentation: We present a case of Acanthamoeba castellanii infection in a 63-year-old female patient with AIDS, who was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of fever, skin ulcers, subcutaneous nodules, and food regurgitation from the nose while eating. After initial empirical treatment failed, a biopsy of the subcutaneous nodule was performed, and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology was used to detect pathogenic microorganisms in both the biopsy specimen and blood samples. The results revealed Acanthamoeba castellanii infection. Additionally, histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen and cytological examination of the secretions from the ulcer surface also confirmed this pathogenic infection. The patient's symptoms significantly improved upon discharge after adjusting the treatment regimen to a combination of anti-amebic therapy. Conclusion: Immunocompromised patients presenting with unexplained fever and skin or sinus lesions should be evaluated for Acanthamoeba castellanii infection. Multi-drug combination therapy is required for this organism infection, and a standard treatment protocol still needs further research. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing is a valuable tool for early diagnosis of unknown pathogen infections.

The critical role of SETDB1-mediated CCND1/PI3K/AKT pathway via p53-RS di-methylation at K370 in the proliferation of WRL68 cells induced by nicotine.

Constituents of cigarette smoke are known to be carcinogens. Additionally, there is mounting evidence that the liver is an organ susceptible to tobacco carcinogenicity. Nicotine, the primary constituent of tobacco, plays a role in cancer progression. In our previous study, it was found that nicotine enhances the proliferation of a human normal fetal hepatic (WRL68) cell due to the activation of p53 mutation at Ser249 (p53-RS)/STAT1/CCND1 signaling pathway. Here, we further elucidated the mechanism of regulating this pathway. Firstly, dose-dependent increase of SETDB1 protein level in WRL68 cells upon exposure to nicotine (1.25, 2.5, and 5 µM), significantly enhanced cellular proliferation. In addition, the upregulation of SETDB1 protein was necessary for the nuclear translocation of p53-RS to establish a ternary complex with STAT1 and SETDB1, which facilitated p53-RS di-methylation at K370 (p53-RS/K370me2). After that, the activation of CCND1/PI3K/AKT pathway was initiated when STAT1 stability was enhanced by p53-RS/K370me2, ultimately resulting in cell proliferation. Altogether, the study revealed that the increase in SETDB1 expression could potentially have a significant impact on the activation of CCND1/PI3K/AKT pathway through p53-RS/K370me2, leading to the proliferation of WRL68 cells induced by nicotine, which could contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma for smokers. Besides, the results of this study provided a foundation for the development of anticancer therapies for cancers associated with tobacco use.

The Role of Nondigestible Oligosaccharides in Alleviating Human Chronic Diseases by Regulating the Gut Microbiota: A Review.

The gut has been a focus of chronic disease research. The gut microbiota produces metabolites that act as signaling molecules and substrates, closely influencing host health. Nondigestible oligosaccharides (NDOs), as a common dietary fiber, play an important role in regulating the structure and function of the gut microbiota. Their mechanism of action is mainly attributed to providing a carbon source as specific probiotics, producing related metabolites, and regulating the gut microbial community. However, due to the selective utilization of oligosaccharides, some factors, such as the type and structure of oligosaccharides, have different impacts on the composition of microbial populations and the production of metabolites in the colon ecosystem. This review systematically describes the key factors influencing the selective utilization of oligosaccharides by microorganisms and elaborates how oligosaccharides affect the host's immune system, inflammation levels, and energy metabolism by regulating microbial diversity and metabolic function, which in turn affects the onset and progress of chronic diseases, especially diabetes, obesity, depression, intestinal inflammatory diseases, and constipation. In this review, we re-examine the interaction mechanisms between the gut microbiota and its associated metabolites and diseases, and we explore new strategies for promoting human health and combating chronic diseases through dietary interventions.

Three-pressure prediction method of jointing well-seismic data in JT1 well area of Sichuan Basin in China.

With the high yield of many wells represented by Well JT1 in the Maokou Formation, has catalyzed a surge in exploration activities along the platform margin facies of the Maokou Formation in central Sichuan and further showed the significant exploration potential of the Maokou Formation in the northern slope. However, the fracture cave body of the Maokou Formation exhibits a high degree of development, strong longitudinal and horizontal heterogeneity, large formation pressure differences, and drilling events such as gas kicks and lost circulation occur frequently, which seriously affects the efficient implementation of drilling. Understanding the spatial distribution of the three-pressure in the formation can help better deal with and solve the above problems. Therefore, in order to help the safe, high-quality and rapid drilling of the Maokou Formation in the study area, and enhance the efficiency of oil and gas development, this paper explores the research on the prediction method of the three-pressure of jointing well-seismic data based on the geomechanical experimental data and the actual drilling data. In the process of prediction of pore pressure, this study found that the pore pressure and formation velocity in the study area have an exponential relationship. In order to enhance the applicability of the Filippone's method in the study area and improve the prediction accuracy of pore pressure, the linear relationship between pore pressure and formation velocity in the Filippone's method is modified to an exponential relationship, and a pore pressure prediction model suitable for the work area was established. Based on the Mohr-Coulomb criterion and Huang's model, the prediction models of collapse pressure and fracture pressure applicable to the study area were established, respectively. Then, the elastic parameters were obtained through pre-stack inversion, and the three-pressure bodies were calculated based on the elastic parameter bodies. The results indicate that: (1) The three-pressure prediction method of the jointing well-seismic data in this paper can predict the formation's longitudinal and transverse pressure anomaly zones in advance. (2) The Maokou Formation in the study area is characterized by abnormally high pressure, to balance the pressure of the high-ground formation, high-density drilling fluid is necessary. (3) The prediction results of three-pressure in this paper are highly consistent with the actual drilling engineering events, which verifies the reliability of the three-pressure prediction results presented in this study. The results of the study can provide a basis for decision-making in drilling geological design, such as the determination of drilling fluid density, the evaluation of borehole stability and other engineering problems that require support from three-pressure data.

LASSO-Based Machine Learning Algorithm for Prediction of PICS Associated with Sepsis.

Introduction: This study aims to establish a comprehensive, multi-level approach for tackling tropical diseases by proactively anticipating and managing Persistent Inflammation, Immunosuppression, and Catabolism Syndrome (PICS) within the initial 14 days of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. The primary objective is to amalgamate a diverse array of indicators and pathogenic microbial data to pinpoint pivotal predictive variables, enabling effective intervention specifically tailored to the context of tropical diseases. Methods: A focused analysis was conducted on 1733 patients admitted to the ICU between December 2016 and July 2019. Utilizing the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression, disease severity and laboratory indices were scrutinized. The identified variables served as the foundation for constructing a predictive model designed to forecast the occurrence of PICS. Results: Among the subjects, 13.79% met the diagnostic criteria for PICS, correlating with a mortality rate of 38.08%. Key variables, including red-cell distribution width coefficient of variation (RDW-CV), hemofiltration (HF), mechanical ventilation (MV), Norepinephrine (NE), lactic acidosis, and multiple-drug resistant bacteria (MDR) infection, were identified through LASSO regression. The resulting predictive model exhibited a robust performance with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.828, an accuracy of 0.862, and a specificity of 0.977. Subsequent validation in an independent cohort yielded an AUC of 0.848. Discussion: The acquisition of RDW-CV, HF requirement, MV requirement, NE requirement, lactic acidosis, and MDR upon ICU admission emerges as a pivotal factor for prognosticating PICS onset in the context of tropical diseases. This study highlights the potential for significant improvements in clinical outcomes through the implementation of timely and targeted interventions tailored specifically to the challenges posed by tropical diseases.

Research on spatial carving method of glutenite reservoir based on opacity voxel imaging.

The glutenite reservoir in an exploration area in eastern China is well-developed and holds significant exploration potential as an important oil and gas alternative layer. However, due to the influence of sedimentary characteristics, the glutenite reservoir exhibits strong lateral heterogeneity, significant vertical thickness variations, and low accuracy in reservoir space characterization, which affects the reasonable and effective deployment of development wells. Seismic data contains the three-dimensional spatial characteristics of geological bodies, but how to design a suitable transfer function to extract the nonlinear relationship between seismic data and reservoirs is crucial. At present, the transfer functions are concentrated in low-dimensional or high-dimensional fixed mathematical models, which cannot accurately describe the nonlinear relationship between seismic data and complex reservoirs, resulting in low spatial description accuracy of complex reservoirs. In this regard, this paper first utilizes a fusion method based on probability kernel to fuse seismic attributes such as wave impedance, effective bandwidth, and composite envelope difference. This provide a more intuitive reflection of the distribution characteristics of glutenite reservoirs. Moreover, a hybrid nonlinear transfer function is established to transform the fused attribute cube into an opaque attribute cube. Finally, the illumination model and ray casting method are used to perform voxel imaging of the glutenite reservoirs, brighten the detailed characteristics of reservoir space, and then form a set of methods for ' brightening reservoirs and darkening non-reservoirs ', which improves the spatial engraving accuracy of glutenite reservoirs.

Role of scalp nerve block in improving the quality of rehabilitation in patients after meningioma resection: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we analyzed whether scalp nerve block with ropivacaine can improve the quality of rehabilitation in patients after meningioma resection. METHODS: We included 150 patients who were undergoing craniotomy in our hospital and categorized them into 2 groups - observation group (patients received an additional regional scalp nerve block anesthesia) and control group (patients underwent intravenous general anesthesia for surgery), using the random number table method approach (75 patients in each group). The main indicator of the study was the Karnofsky Performance Scale scores of patients at 3 days postoperatively, and the secondary indicator was the anesthesia satisfaction scores of patients after awakening from anesthesia. The application value of different anesthesia modes was studied and compared in the 2 groups. RESULTS: Patients in the observation group showed better anesthesia effects than those in the control group, with significantly higher Karnofsky Performance Scale scores at 3 days postoperatively (75.02 vs 66.43, P < .05) and anesthesia satisfaction scores. Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the observation group had lower pain degrees at different times after the surgery, markedly lower dose of propofol and remifentanil for anesthesia, and lower incidence of adverse reactions and postoperative complications. In addition, the satisfaction score of the patients and their families for the treatment was higher and the results of all the indicators were better in the observation group than in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Scalp nerve block with ropivacaine significantly improves the quality of short-term postoperative rehabilitation in patients undergoing elective craniotomy for meningioma resection. This is presumably related to the improvements in intraoperative hemodynamics, relief from postoperative pain, and reduction in postoperative nausea and vomiting.

When can we start early enteral nutrition safely in patients with shock on vasopressors?

Shock is a common critical illness characterized by microcirculatory disorders and insufficient tissue perfusion. Patients with shock and hemodynamic instability generally require vasopressors to maintain the target mean arterial pressure. Enteral nutrition (EN) is an important therapeutic intervention in critically ill patients and has unique benefits for intestinal recovery. However, the initiation of early EN in patients with shock receiving vasopressors remains controversial. Current guidelines make conservative and vague recommendations regarding early EN support in patients with shock. Increasing studies demonstrates that early EN delivery is safe and feasible in patients with shock receiving vasopressors; however, this evidence is based on observational studies. Changes in gastrointestinal blood flow vary by vasopressor and inotrope and are complex. The risk of gastrointestinal complications, especially the life-threatening complications of non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia and non-occlusive bowel necrosis, cannot be ignored in patients with shock during early EN support. It remains a therapeutic challenge in critical care nutrition therapy to determine the initiation time of EN in patients with shock receiving vasopressors and the safe threshold region for initiating EN with vasopressors. Therefore, the current review aimed to summarize the evidence on the optimal and safe timing of early EN initiation in patients with shock receiving vasopressors to improve clinical practice.

Heatstroke: a multicenter study in Southwestern China.

Background: An increase in Heatstroke cases occurred in southwest China in 2022 due to factors like global warming, abnormal temperature rise, insufficient power supply, and other contributing factors. This resulted in a notable rise in Heatstroke patients experiencing varying degrees of organ dysfunction. This descriptive study aims to analyze the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of Heatstroke patients in the ICU, providing support for standardized diagnosis and treatment, ultimately enhancing the prognosis of Heatstroke. Methods: A retrospective, multicenter, descriptive analysis was conducted on Heatstroke patients admitted to ICUs across 83 hospitals in southwest China. Electronic medical records were utilized for data collection, encompassing various aspects such as epidemiological factors, onset symptoms, complications, laboratory data, concurrent infections, treatments, and patient outcomes. Results: The dataset primarily comprised classic heatstroke, with 477 males (55% of total). The patient population had a median age of 72 years (range: 63-80 years). The most common initial symptoms were fever, mental or behavioral abnormalities, and fainting. ICU treatment involved respiratory support, antibiotics, sedatives, and other interventions. Among the 700 ICU admissions, 213 patients had no infection, while 487 were diagnosed with infection, predominantly lower respiratory tract infection. Patients presenting with neurological symptoms initially (n = 715) exhibited higher ICU mortality risk compared to those without neurological symptoms (n = 104), with an odds ratio of 2.382 (95% CI 1.665, 4.870) (p = 0.017). Conclusion: In 2022, the majority of Heatstroke patients in southwest China experienced classical Heatstroke, with many acquiring infections upon admission to the ICU. Moreover, Heatstroke can result in diverse complications.

Substance Addiction Rehabilitation Drugs.

The relapse rate of substance abusers is high, and addiction rehabilitation adjunct drugs need to be developed urgently. There have been numerous reports on blocking the formation of substance addiction, but studies on drugs that can alleviate withdrawal symptoms are very limited. Both the dopamine transporter (DAT) hypothesis and D3 dopamine receptor (D3R) hypothesis are proposed. DAT activators reduce the extracellular dopamine level, and D3R antagonists reduce the neuron's sensitivity to dopamine, both of which may exacerbate the withdrawal symptoms subsequently. The D3R partial agonist SK608 has biased signaling properties via the G-protein-dependent pathway but did not induce D3R desensitization and, thus, may be a promising drug for the withdrawal symptoms. Drugs for serotoninergic neurons or GABAergic neurons and anti-inflammatory drugs may have auxiliary effects to addiction treatments. Drugs that promote structural synaptic plasticity are also discussed.

CDK4/6 inhibitors in drug-induced liver injury: a pharmacovigilance study of the FAERS database and analysis of the drug-gene interaction network.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential risk of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by the CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6is abemaciclib, ribociclib, and palbociclib by comprehensively analyzing the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. Moreover, potential toxicological mechanisms of CDK4/6is-related liver injury were explored via drug-gene network analysis. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we collected reports of DILI associated with CDK4/6i use from the FAERS dated January 2014 to March 2023. We conducted disproportionality analyses using the reporting odds ratio (ROR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Pathway enrichment analysis and drug-gene network analyses were subsequently performed to determine the potential mechanisms underlying CDK4/6i-induced liver injury. Results: We found positive signals for DILI with ribociclib (ROR = 2.60) and abemaciclib (ROR = 2.37). DILIs associated with liver-related investigations, signs, and symptoms were confirmed in all three reports of CDK4/6is. Moreover, ascites was identified as an unlisted hepatic adverse effect of palbociclib. We isolated 189 interactive target genes linking CDK4/6 inhibitors to hepatic injury. Several key genes, such as STAT3, HSP90AA1, and EP300, were revealed via protein-protein analysis, emphasizing their central roles within the network. KEGG pathway enrichment of these genes highlighted multiple pathways. Conclusion: Our study revealed variations in hepatobiliary toxicity among the different CDK4/6 inhibitors, with ribociclib showing the highest risk of liver injury, followed by abemaciclib, while palbociclib appeared relatively safe. Our findings emphasize the need for cautious use of CDK4/6 inhibitors, and regular liver function monitoring is recommended for long-term CDK4/6 inhibitor use.

An in vitro neurogenetics platform for precision disease modeling in the mouse.

The power and scope of disease modeling can be markedly enhanced through the incorporation of broad genetic diversity. The introduction of pathogenic mutations into a single inbred mouse strain sometimes fails to mimic human disease. We describe a cross-species precision disease modeling platform that exploits mouse genetic diversity to bridge cell-based modeling with whole organism analysis. We developed a universal protocol that permitted robust and reproducible neural differentiation of genetically diverse human and mouse pluripotent stem cell lines and then carried out a proof-of-concept study of the neurodevelopmental gene DYRK1A. Results in vitro reliably predicted the effects of genetic background on Dyrk1a loss-of-function phenotypes in vivo. Transcriptomic comparison of responsive and unresponsive strains identified molecular pathways conferring sensitivity or resilience to Dyrk1a1A loss and highlighted differential messenger RNA isoform usage as an important determinant of response. This cross-species strategy provides a powerful tool in the functional analysis of candidate disease variants identified through human genetic studies.

Tmod2 Is a Regulator of Cocaine Responses through Control of Striatal and Cortical Excitability and Drug-Induced Plasticity.

Drugs of abuse induce neuroadaptations, including synaptic plasticity, that are critical for transition to addiction, and genes and pathways that regulate these neuroadaptations are potential therapeutic targets. Tropomodulin 2 (Tmod2) is an actin-regulating gene that plays an important role in synapse maturation and dendritic arborization and has been implicated in substance abuse and intellectual disability in humans. Here, we mine the KOMP2 data and find that Tmod2 knock-out mice show emotionality phenotypes that are predictive of addiction vulnerability. Detailed addiction phenotyping shows that Tmod2 deletion does not affect the acute locomotor response to cocaine administration. However, sensitized locomotor responses are highly attenuated in these knock-outs, indicating perturbed drug-induced plasticity. In addition, Tmod2 mutant animals do not self-administer cocaine indicating lack of hedonic responses to cocaine. Whole-brain MR imaging shows differences in brain volume across multiple regions, although transcriptomic experiments did not reveal perturbations in gene coexpression networks. Detailed electrophysiological characterization of Tmod2 KO neurons showed increased spontaneous firing rate of early postnatal and adult cortical and striatal neurons. Cocaine-induced synaptic plasticity that is critical for sensitization is either missing or reciprocal in Tmod2 KO nucleus accumbens shell medium spiny neurons, providing a mechanistic explanation of the cocaine response phenotypes. Combined, these data, collected from both males and females, provide compelling evidence that Tmod2 is a major regulator of plasticity in the mesolimbic system and regulates the reinforcing and addictive properties of cocaine.

Energy-efficient path planning for a multi-load automated guided vehicle executing multiple transport tasks in a manufacturing workshop environment.

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are typical intelligent logistics equipment, and path planning plays a significant role in the efficient use of AGVs. To better utilize multi-load AGVs and enhance the sustainability of the logistics process, an energy-efficient path planning model is formulated for a multi-load AGV executing multiple transport tasks in a manufacturing workshop environment, with transport distance and energy consumption (EC) serving as optimization objectives. Furthermore, a two-stage approach is proposed to solve it. In the first stage, the optimal energy-efficient paths connecting any two different nodes are acquired based on the workshop transport network expressed as a topological map. Afterward, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II is adopted in the second stage to determine the optimal execution sequence of pickup and delivery operations related to the assigned transport tasks, as well as to select the optimal path from the first stage's output information to execute each operation simultaneously. Moreover, the experimental study validates the energy-saving effect of the established model and the effectiveness of the solution method, and the factors affecting the multi-load AGV EC are analyzed.

Low SAA4 gene expression is associated with advanced HCC stage and a poor prognosis.

At present, although there are tumor markers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), markers with better predictive efficiency are needed. SAA4 gene expression in liver tumor and paracancerous tissues was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed and visualized by heatmap and volcano plot. Survival analysis was performed based on SAA4 expression. SAA4 expression was compared in patients grouped based on clinicopathological features, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted. Immunohistochemical staining was used to verify the SAA4 protein staining intensity from The Human Protein Atlas database and our center's samples. The diagnostic value of SAA4 for HCC was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves. SAA4 was expressed at low levels in HCC tissues, and low SAA4 expression was associated with a poor prognosis in HCC. In addition, SAA4 expression decreased with HCC progression. There were 188 upregulated DEGs and 1551 downregulated DEGs between the high and low SAA4 expression groups. Complement and coagulation cascades, fatty acid metabolism, and ECM receptor interaction were significantly enriched in the GSEA. SAA4 had good predictive efficacy for HCC and even early HCC and was superior to AFP. In general, low SAA4 expression was associated with advanced HCC stage and a poor prognosis. In addition, SAA4 may be helpful for the diagnosis of early HCC and may become a novel tumor marker with good predictive power for HCC.

Gastrointestinal manifestations of critical ill heatstroke patients and their associations with outcomes: A multicentre, retrospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Extreme heat exposure is a growing health problem, and the effects of heat on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is unknown. This study aimed to assess the incidence of GI symptoms associated with heatstroke and its impact on outcomes. AIM: To assess the incidence of GI symptoms associated with heatstroke and its impact on outcomes. METHODS: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to heatstroke were included from 83 centres. Patient history, laboratory results, and clinically relevant outcomes were recorded at ICU admission and daily until up to day 15, ICU discharge, or death. GI symptoms, including nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence, and bloody stools, were recorded. The characteristics of patients with heatstroke concomitant with GI symptoms were described. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to determine significant predictors of GI symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 713 patients were included in the final analysis, of whom 132 (18.5%) patients had at least one GI symptom during their ICU stay, while 26 (3.6%) suffered from more than one symptom. Patients with GI symptoms had a significantly higher ICU stay compared with those without. The mortality of patients who had two or more GI symptoms simultaneously was significantly higher than that in those with one GI symptom. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that older patients with a lower GCS score on admission were more likely to experience GI symptoms. CONCLUSION: The GI manifestations of heatstroke are common and appear to impact clinically relevant hospitalization outcomes.

Functional connectivity characteristics of the brain network involved in prickle perception of single fiber stimulation.

BACKGROUND: The complex network connections, information transmission and organization play key roles in brain cognition on sensory stimulation. Previous studies showed that several brain regions of somatosensory, motor, emotional, cognitive, etc. are linked to fabric-evoked prickle. But the functional connectivity characteristics of the brain network involved in prickle perception is still unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, resting state fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) with functional connectivity analysis was adopted to build the initial brain functional network, and task fMRI with psychophysiological interaction analysis was employed to investigate modulation features of prickling task to functional connections in the brain network. RESULTS: The results showed that, in resting state, six groups or sub-networks can be identified in the prickle network, and when the subjects performed the prickling task, functional connectivity strength between some seed regions (e.g., somatosensory regions and precuneus, emotional regions and the prefrontal cortex, etc.) in the network increased. CONCLUSION: Combining resting-state fMRI with task fMRI is a feasible and promising method to study functional connectivity characteristics of the brain network involved in prickle perception. It is inferred that the "itch" ingredient of prickle sensation was transmitted from somatosensory cortices to precuneus, and emotional attribute (e.g., pain) from somatosensory cortices to the prefrontal cortex and at last to emotional regions.