[Effects of blistering cupping combined with thunder-fire moxibustion on the efficacy and airway remodeling of cold-wheezing syndrome in bronchial asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of the combined application of blistering cupping with thunder-fire moxibustion in treating bronchial asthma of cold-wheezing syndrome, and its influences on airway remodeling, inflammatory factors, lung function, and quality of life on the base of conventional western medicine treatment. METHODS: A total of 76 patients with bronchial asthma of cold-wheezing syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 38 cases in each group. In the control group, the basic treatment was used, i.e. budesonide formoterol powder inhalation. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, blistering cupping combined with thunder-fire moxibustion was supplemented, Dazhui (GV 14), Danzhong (CV 17) and bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Gaohuang (BL 43), and Zhongfu (LU 1) were selected; blistering cupping was administered once a day and thunder-fire moxibustion was given twice a day. One course of treatment was composed of 7 days in both groups, and 2 courses of treatment were required. Before and after treatment, the airway remodeling indexes (matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9], tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 [TIMP-1], and transforming growth factor-ß1 [TGF-ß1]) and inflammatory indexes (interleukin [IL] -1ß、IL-25) were detected by using radioimmunoassay in the patients of the two groups. The lung function, traditional Chinese medicine symptom score, and asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ) score were observed in the patients of the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the serum levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-ß1, IL-1ß, IL-25, peak expiratory flow (PEFR), traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores, and AQLQ scores were decreased compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (P<0.05), and the results in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the first second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) were increased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the results in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the conventional western medicine treatment, the combination of blistering cupping with thunder-fire moxibustion can effectively ameliorate the clinical symptoms of patients, reduce inflammatory levels, inhibit airway remodeling and improve the lung function and quality of life in the patients with bronchial asthma.

Altered fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation in women with premenstrual syndrome via acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP6).

BACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a prevalent gynecological disease and is significantly associated with abnormal neural activity. Acupuncture is an effective treatment on PMS in clinical practice. However, few studies have been performed to investigate whether acupuncture might modulate the abnormal neural activity in patients with PMS. Thereby, the aim of the study was to assess alterations of the brain activity induced by acupuncture stimulation in PMS patients. METHODS: Twenty PMS patients were enrolled in this study. All patients received a 6-min resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scan before and after electro-acupuncturing stimulation (EAS) at Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoint in the late luteal phase of menstrual. Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) method was applied to examine the EAS-related brain changes in PMS patients. RESULTS: Compared with pre-EAS at SP6, increased fALFF value in several brain regions induced by SP6, including brainstem, right thalamus, bilateral insula, right paracentral lobule, bilateral cerebellum, meanwhile, decreased fALFF in the left cuneus, right precuneus, left inferior temporal cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide imaging evidence to support that SP6-related acupuncture stimulation may modulate the neural activity in patients with PMS. This study may partly interpret the neural mechanisms of acupuncture at SP6 which is used to treat PMS patients in clinical. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on http://www.chictr.org.cn . The Clinical Trial Registration Number is ChiCTR-OPC-15005918, registry in 29/01/2015.

Regulated aberrant amygdala functional connectivity in premenstrual syndrome via electro-acupuncture stimulation at sanyinjiao acupoint（SP6）.

Background: Acupuncture is an effective therapy for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, the mechanisms behind this method are still unclear. Our previous study found that aberrant amygdala resting-state functional networks were involved in PMS. Thereby, a deep investigation on the alterations of amygdala resting-state functional networks induced by acupuncture stimulation might contribute to a better understanding of the intricate mechanisms of acupuncture treatment on PMS. Methods: Twenty three PMS patients were recruited in this study. All patients received a 6-minute electro-acupuncture stimulation (EAS) at Sanyinjiao acupoint (SP6) and underwent two 6-minute resting-state fMRI scannings before and after EAS. With amygdala as the seed region, functional connectivity (FC) method was adopted to examine EAS-related modulation of intrinsic connectivity in PMS patients by comparing pre-EAS. Results: The results showed that EAS at SP6 induced increased FC between the left amygdala and brainstem, right hippocampus, and decreased FC between the left amygdala and left thalamus, bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA). Moreover, the results also showed that EAS at SP6 induced increased FC between the right amygdala and brainstem, right hippocampus, right orbitofrontal cortex, bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and decreased FC between the right amygdala and right SMA. Conclusions: Based on the results of our previous study, our findings might improve our understanding of neural mechanisms behind acupuncture effects on PMS.

Altered amygdala resting-state functional connectivity following acupuncture stimulation at BaiHui (GV20) in first-episode drug-Naïve major depressive disorder.

Amygdala is an important locus of dysfunction implicated in major depressive disorder(MDD). Aberrant amygdala networks(AN) had been reported in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) study. The safety and efficacy of acupuncture treatment for MDD have been verified in previous clinical studies. This study is aimed to investigate whether acupuncture at GV20 could modulate the abnormal AN of patients with the first-episode, drug-naïve MDD by using rs-fMRI combined with functional connectivity (FC) method. Thirty MDD patient underwent 6-min rs-fMRI scans respectively before and after 20-min electro-acupuncture stimulate(EAS) at GV20. Twenty-nine healthy subjects underwent only a 6-min rs-fMRI scan. Based on the amygdala as the seed region, FC method was adopted to examine abnormal AN in patients by comparing with healthy subjects and to evaluate the influence of EAS on intrinsic connectivity within the AN in patients with MDD. Compared to healthy subjects, MDD patients had aberrant intrinsic AN which mainly showed increased FC between amygdala and hippocampus, precuneus, precentral gyrus and angular gyrus, as well as decreased FC between amygdala and orbital frontal cortex(OFC). Moreover, our results indicated that EAS at GV20 induced increased/decreased FC between amygdala and certain regions in MDD patients. In addition, the intrinsic amygdala FC within other certain brain regions in MDD patients were regulated by EAS at GV20. The abnormal AN of MDD patients could be modulated by EAS at GV20. Our findings may further provide the potential imaging evidence to support the modulatory mechanisms of acupuncture on MDD.

Altered Brain Regional Homogeneity Following Electro-Acupuncture Stimulation at Sanyinjiao (SP6) in Women With Premenstrual Syndrome.

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a menstrual cycle-related disorder which causes physical and mood changes prior to menstruation and is associated with the functional dysregulation of the brain. Acupuncture is an effective alternative therapy for treating PMS, and sanyinjiao (SP6) is one of the most common acupoints used for improving the symptoms of PMS. However, the mechanism behind acupuncture's efficacy for relieving PMS symptoms remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the brain response patterns induced by acupuncture at acupoint SP6 in patients with PMS. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three females with PMS were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent resting-state fMRI data collection before and after 6 min of electroacupuncture stimulation (EAS) at SP6. A regional homogeneity (ReHo) approach was used to compare patients' brain responses before and after EAS at SP6 using REST software. The present study was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn, and the Clinical Trial Registration Number is ChiCTR-OPC-15005918. Results: EAS at SP6 elicited decreased ReHo value at the bilateral precuneus, right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) and left middle frontal cortex (MFC). In contrast, increased ReHo value was found at the bilateral thalamus, bilateral insula, left putamen and right primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Conclusions: Our study provides an underlying neuroimaging evidence that the aberrant neural activity of PMS patients could be regulated by acupuncture at SP6.

Altered fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation in premenstrual syndrome: A resting state fMRI study.

BACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is becoming highly prevalent among female and is characterized by emotional, physical and behavior symptoms. Previous evidence suggested functional dysregulation of female brain was expected to be involved in the etiology of PMS. The aim of present study was to evaluate the alterations of spontaneous brain activity in PMS patients based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). METHODS: 20 PMS patients and 21 healthy controls underwent resting-state fMRI scanning during luteal phase. All participants were asked to complete a prospective daily record of severity of problems (DRSP) questionnaire. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, the results showed that PMS patients had increased fALFF in bilateral precuneus, left hippocampus and left inferior temporal cortex, and decreased fALFF in bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and cerebellum at luteal phase. Moreover, the DRSP scores of PMS patients were negatively correlated with the mean fALFF in ACC and positively correlated with the fALFF in precuneus. LIMITATIONS: (1) the study did not investigate whether or not abnormal brain activity differences between groups in mid-follicular phase, and within-group changes. between phases.(2) it was relatively limited sample size and the participants were young; (3) fALFF could not provide us with more holistic information of brain network;(4) the comparisons of PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) were not involved in the study. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows abnormal spontaneous brain activity in PMS patients revealed by fALFF, which could provide neuroimaging evidence to further improve our understanding of the underlying neural mechanism of PMS.

Abnormal Spontaneous Brain Activity in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome Revealed by Regional Homogeneity.

Background: Previous studies have revealed that the etiologies of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refer to menstrual cycle related brain changes. However, its intrinsic neural mechanism is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess abnormal spontaneous brain activity and to explicate the intricate neural mechanism of PMS using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI). Materials and Methods: The data of 20 PMS patients (PMS group) and 21 healthy controls (HC group) were analyzed by regional homogeneity (ReHo) method during the late luteal phase of menstrual cycle. In addition, all the participants were asked to complete a daily record of severity of problems (DRSP) questionnaire. Results: Compared with HC group, the results showed that PMS group had increased ReHo mainly in the bilateral precuneus, left inferior temporal cortex (ITC), right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) and left middle frontal cortex (MFC) and decreased ReHo in the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) at the luteal phase. Moreover, the PMS group had higher DRSP scores, and the DRSP scores positively correlated with ReHo in left MFC and negatively correlated with ReHo in the right ACC. Conclusion: Our results suggest that abnormal spontaneous brain activity is found in PMS patients and the severity of symptom is specifically related to the left MFC and right ACC. The present findings may be beneficial to explicate the intricate neural mechanism of PMS.

Changes in Regional Brain Homogeneity Induced by Electro-Acupuncture Stimulation at the Baihui Acupoint in Healthy Subjects: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

INTRODUCTION: According to the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory of acupuncture, Baihui (GV20) is applied to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the relationships between neural responses and GV20 remain unknown. Thus, the main aim of this study was to examine the brain responses induced by electro-acupuncture stimulation (EAS) at GV20. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed in 33 healthy subjects. Based on the non-repeated event-related (NRER) paradigm, group differences were examined between GV20 and a sham acupoint using the regional homogeneity (ReHo) method. RESULTS: Compared with the sham acupoint, EAS at GV20 induced increased ReHo in regions including the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), middle cingulate cortex (MCC), precentral cortex, and precuneus (preCUN). Decreased ReHo was found in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), supplementary motor area (SMA), thalamus, putamen, and cerebellum. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings provide preliminary neuroimaging evidence to indicate that EAS at GV20 could induce a specific pattern of neural responses by analysis of ReHo of brain activity. These findings might improve the understanding of mechanisms of acupuncture stimulation at GV20.

Modulation of the Default Mode Network in First-Episode, Drug-Naïve Major Depressive Disorder via Acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) Acupoint.

BACKGROUND: Previous neuroimaging studies have revealed that acupuncture modulates the default mode network (DMN) in healthy subjects and patients with certain disorder. However, few studies have been performed to investigate whether or not acupuncture might modulate the DMN in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Thereby, the aim of the present study was to assess alterations of the DMN induced by acupuncture stimulation in patients with first-episode, drug-naïve MDD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty nine patients with first-episode, drug-naïve MDD and 29 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. All the healthy subjects underwent 6-min resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) scan. While patients underwent acupuncture stimulation for 20-min electro-acupuncture stimulation (EAS) at Baihui acupoint (GV20) and two 6-min R-fMRI scans before and after EAS. Based on the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PC/PCC) as the seed region, functional connectivity (FC) method was adopted to examine abnormal DMN in patients by comparing with healthy subjects and to evaluate the influence of EAS on intrinsic connectivity within the DMN in patients with MDD. RESULTS: Compared to healthy subjects, MDD patients had abnormal DMN. Moreover, results showed that EAS at GV20 induced increased FC between the PC/PCC and bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and decreased FC between the PC/PCC and left middle prefrontal cortex, left angualr gyrus and bilateral hippocampus/parahippocampus (HIPP/paraHIPP) in patients with MDD, which were the main brain regions showing significant differences between the patients and healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide imaging evidence to support that GV20-related acupuncture stimulation may modulate the DMN in patients with first-episode, drug-naïve MDD. This study may partly interpret the neural mechanisms of acupuncture at GV20 which is used to treat patients with MDD in clinical.