Multi-scale analysis of acupuncture mechanisms for motor and sensory cortex activity based on SEEG data.

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese therapy, is gaining attention for its impact on the brain. While existing electroencephalogram and functional magnetic resonance image research has made significant contributions, this paper utilizes stereo-electroencephalography data for a comprehensive exploration of neurophysiological effects. Employing a multi-scale approach, channel-level analysis reveals notable $\delta $-band activity changes during acupuncture. At the brain region level, acupuncture modulated connectivity between the paracentral lobule and the precentral gyrus. Whole-brain analysis indicates acupuncture's influence on network organization, and enhancing $E_{glob}$ and increased interaction between the motor and sensory cortex. Brain functional reorganization is an important basis for functional recovery or compensation after central nervous system injury. The use of acupuncture to stimulate peripheral nerve trunks, muscle motor points, acupoints, etc., in clinical practice may contribute to the reorganization of brain function. This multi-scale perspective provides diverse insights into acupuncture's effects. Remarkably, this paper pioneers the introduction of stereo-electroencephalography data, advancing our understanding of acupuncture's mechanisms and potential therapeutic benefits in clinical settings.

Evaluation of the Robustness Verification of Downstream Production Process for Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine and Different Chromatography Medium Purification Effects.

BACKGROUND: Large-scale vaccine production requires downstream processing that focuses on robustness, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. METHODS: To assess the robustness of the current vaccine production process, three batches of COVID-19 Omicron BA.1 strain hydrolytic concentrated solutions were selected. Four gel filtration chromatography media (Chromstar 6FF, Singarose FF, Bestarose 6B, and Focurose 6FF) and four ion exchange chromatography media (Maxtar Q, Q Singarose, Diamond Q, and Q Focurose) were used to evaluate their impact on vaccine purification. The quality of the vaccine was assessed by analyzing total protein content, antigen content, residual Vero cell DNA, residual Vero cell protein, and residual bovine serum albumin (BSA). Antigen recovery rate and specific activity were also calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate process robustness and the purification effects of the chromatography media. RESULTS: The statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in antigen recovery (p = 0.10), Vero HCP residue (p = 0.59), Vero DNA residue (p = 0.28), and BSA residue (p = 0.97) among the three batches of hydrolytic concentrated solutions processed according to the current method. However, a significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed in antigen content. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated the remarkable robustness of the current downstream process for producing WIBP-CorV vaccines. This process can adapt to different batches of hydrolytic concentrated solutions and various chromatography media. The research is crucial for the production of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and provides a potential template for purifying other viruses.

[Effect of auricular point sticking therapy on perioperative pain in patients with partial lung resection].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the analgesic effect of auricular point sticking therapy during the perioperative stage in the patients with partial lung resection. METHODS: A total of 92 patients with partial lung resection were randomized into an auricular point group (31 cases, 1 case dropped off), the sham-auricular point group (30 cases) and a medication group (31 cases, 1 case dropped off). The routine medication for analgesia was provided in all of the three groups. In the auricular point group, 1 day before operation, the auricular point sticking therapy was applied at shenmen (TF4), sympathetic (AH6a), subcortex (AT4), brain stem (AT3,4i), anterior ear lobe (LO4), chest (AH10) and lung (CO14), retained till the third day after operation. In the sham-auricular point group, the auricular adhesive tape without semen vaccariae was used at the same points as the auricular point group. Separately, the scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) in 8, 16, 24, 48 h and 72 h after operation, the time for obtaining the mean of the postoperative VAS score<3 points, the scores of hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD) in 8, 72 h after operation and the plasma concentration of ß-endorphin in 24, 48 h after operation, as well as the adverse reactions after operation were recorded in the patients of each group. RESULTS: In 8, 16, 24, 48 h and 72 h after operation, VAS scores in the auricular point group were lower than those in the sham-auricular point group and the medication group separately (P<0.05). In the auricular point group, 16 h after operation the mean of VAS score was less than 3 points, but in the sham-auricular point group and the medication group, 48 h after operation, such a mean score of VAS was obtained. In 8, 72 h after operation, HAD score in the auricular point group was lower than that in the sham-auricular point group and the medication group respectively. In 24, 48 h after operation, the concentration of plasmaß-endorphin was all higher than that in the sham-auricular point group and the medication group respectively (P<0.05). In 24 h after operation, the plasma concentration ofß-endorphin in the sham-auricular point group was higher than the medication group (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reaction in the auricular point group was lower than that in the sham-auricular point group and the medication group respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Auricular point sticking therapy relieves perioperative pain, shortens analgesic time, releases anxious and depressive emotions and reduces postoperative adverse reaction in the patients with partial lung resection. The analgesic mechanism is probably related to the increase of plasma concentration of ß-endorphin.

[Effects of bloodletting pricking, cupping and surrounding acupuncture on inflammation-related indices in peripheral and local blood in patients with acute herpes zoster].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of bloodletting pricking, cupping and surrounding acupuncture on blood inflammation-related indices in patients with acute herpes zoster (HZ), and to explore the mechanism of pain control and treatment. METHODS: A total of 60 patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, the patients were treated with bloodletting pricking at herpes, followed by cupping treatment; also the surrounding acupuncture was performed at injured skin. The treatment was given once a day and once every other day after the first 3 days; totally one-week treatment was given. In the control group, the patients were treated with intravenous drip of acyclovir and oral administration of vitamin B1 and B12, once a day for total one week. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and percentages of neutrophil, lymphocyte in peripheral and local blood were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the score of VAS was significantly reduced in both groups (both P < 0.05); compared with the control group, the score of VAS and the time of pain relieve were significantly improved in the observation group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared before treatment, the percentages of lymphocyte in peripheral and local blood were reduced after treatment (both P < 0.05) and the percentages of neutrophil in local blood were increased (both P < 0.05). The lymphocyte in local blood was also reduced after treatment in the control group (P < 0.05); compared with peripheral blood in the observation group and local blood in the control group, the percentages of lymphocyte in local blood were reduced (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of bloodletting pricking, cupping and surrounding acupuncture on acute herpes zoster is positive, and it can significantly lower the number of lymphocytes in the local blood and increase the number of neutrophil, which is likely to be one of the anti-virus mechanisms.

Acupuncture and vitamin B12 injection for Bell's palsy: no high-quality evidence exists.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 acupoint injection versus acupuncture alone to reduce incomplete recovery in patients with Bell's palsy. DATA RETRIEVAL: A computer-based online retrieval of Medline, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM databases until April 2014 was performed for relevant trials, using the key words "Bell's palsy or idiopathic facial palsy or facial palsy" and "acupuncture or vitamin B12 or methylcobalamin". STUDY SELECTION: All randomized controlled trials that compared acupuncture with acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 in patients with Bell's palsy were included in the meta-analysis. The initial treatment lasted for at least 4 weeks. The outcomes of incomplete facial recovery were monitored. The scoring index varied and the definition of healing was consistent. The combined effect size was calculated by using relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using the fixed effect model of Review Manager. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incomplete recovery rates were chosen as the primary outcome. RESULTS: Five studies involving 344 patients were included in the final analysis. Results showed that the incomplete recovery rate of Bell's palsy patients was 44.50% in the acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 group but 62.57% in the acupuncture alone group. The major acupoints were Taiyang (EX-HN5), Jiache (ST6), Dicang (ST4) and Sibai (ST2). The combined effect size showed that acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 was better than acupuncture alone for the treatment of Bell's palsy (RR = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.58-0.87; P = 0.001), this result held true when 8 patients lost to follow up in one study were included into the analyses (RR = 0.70, 95%CI: 0.58-0.86; P = 0.0005). In the subgroup analyses, the therapeutic effect in patients of the electroacupuncture subgroup was better than in the non-electroacupuncture subgroup (P = 0.024). There was no significant difference in the incomplete recovery rate by subgroup analysis on drug types and treatment period. Most of the included studies were moderate or low quality, and bias existed. CONCLUSION: In patients with Bell's palsy, acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 can reduce the risk of incomplete recovery compared with acupuncture alone in our meta-analysis. Because of study bias and methodological limitations, this conclusion is uncertain and the clinical application of acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 requires further exploration.