Acupuncture modulation of chronic neuropathic pain and its association with brain functional properties.

Chronic neuropathic pain has been one of the prominent causes of disability, and acupuncture has shown promise in treatment. The present study aimed to characterize acupuncture modulation of chronic neuropathic pain and explore the related functional brain changes. Sixty chronic sciatica patients were divided into acupuncture group or sham acupuncture group and received 10 sessions of treatment during 4 weeks. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and resting-state functional magnetic resonance images were assessed at baseline and after treatment. Then, fractional amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and support vector regression (SVR) analyses were performed. Compared to sham acupuncture, acupuncture significantly improved symptoms, including VAS for leg pain and ODI. In addition, acupuncture exhibited increased fALFF of the right superior parietal lobule (SPL) and right postcentral gyrus (PoCG). Furthermore, the actual 4-week ODI values were positively correlated with the SVR predicted values based on the right SPL fALFF and baseline clinical measurements. These results indicate that the spontaneous neural activity of the right SPL and right PoCG may be involved in the modulation of acupuncture in chronic neuropathic pain. In addition, the spontaneous neural activity of the right SPL might be used as the predictor of response to acupuncture therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100044585, http://www.chictr.org.cn PERSPECTIVE: This clinical neuroimaging study elucidated the neural basis of acupuncture in chronic sciatica. Neurological indicators and clinical measurements could be used as potential predictors of acupuncture response. This study combines neuroimaging and artificial intelligence techniques to highlight the potential of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain.

[Effects of Morinda officinalis polysaccharides on FN and FN-EDA of periodontal ligament fibroblasts in inflammatory microenvironment].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of Morinda officinalis polysaccharides(MOP) on the expression of fibronectin(FN) and fibronectin containing extra domain A(FN-EDA) in inflammatory periodontal ligament fibroblasts. METHODS: Thirty six rats were randomly divided into a control group(n=12) and a model group (n=24). The model group used orthodontic wire ligation to establish periodontitis. After three weeks, 6 rats from each group were selected and confirmed by Micro-CT to complete the modeling. The remaining rats in the model group were randomly divided into periodontitis group, normal saline(NS) group, and MOP group. In the MOP group, MOP (200 mg/kg for 3 d, 50 µL for 4 weeks) was injected into the palatal side of the left maxillary first molar of the rats. In the NS group, same volume of NS was injected, and no treatment was performed in the periodontitis group. The left maxillary tissue of rats were taken and the pathological changes of periodontal tissue were observed by H-E staining. The expression of FN and FN-EDA was detected by immunohistochemistry. Periodontal ligament fibroblasts were cultured in vitro, the effect of MOP on cell activity detected by CCK-8. The fourth generation cells were divided into control group, inflammation group (10 mg/mL lipopolysaccharide), and experimental group (12.5 µg/mL MOP, 12.5 µg/mL MOP+10 mg/mL lipopolysaccharide). The expression of FN and FN-EDA was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The data were statistically analyzed using Prism 8.0 software package. RESULTS: In vivo experiments, the expression of FN-EDA in the MOP group was significantly lower than that in the periodontitis group and NS group(P＜0.05), and the infiltration of inflammatory cells was reduced. However, there was no significant difference in the expression of FN in each group. In vitro experiments, compared with the control group, the expression of FN-EDA mRNA and protein in the inflammation group was significantly increased(P＜0.000 1). MOP significantly reduced the expression of FN-EDA in inflammatory cells, but had no significant effect on FN expression. CONCLUSIONS: With increased expression of FN-EDA in inflammatory periodontal ligament tissues and cells, MOP may play a role in inhibiting inflammation by down-regulating FN-EDA.

Genomic structures of insulin-like growth factor from golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) and their expression responses to the feed types.

Golden pompano is an important aquaculture product in the coastal regions of southern China, which is highly dependent on insulin-like growth factor (IGF) for various biological processes. The cDNAs of ToIGF1, ToIGF2, and ToIGF3 are 1718 bp, 1658 bp, and 2272 bp in length, respectively, with corresponding amino acid sequences of 185 aa, 215 aa, and 194 aa. These sequences consist of 5 parts, including the signal peptide, the B domain, the C domain, the A domain, the D domain, and the E domain, which are also found in other species. While ToIGF1 has no SSR polymorphism, ToIGF2 and ToIGF3 have 3 and 1 SSR polymorphism sites, respectively. In terms of tissue expression, ToIGF1 is predominantly expressed in the liver, ToIGF2 shows its highest expression in the gills, and ToIGF3 also shows its highest expression in the gills, but no expression in the liver and spleen. These tissue distribution results suggest that ToIGFs are not only present in growth-related tissues such as the brain, muscle, and liver, but also in reproductive tissues, tissues that regulate osmotic pressure, and tissues related to food intake. This observation is consistent with other bony fish species and highlights the extensive biological functions of ToIGFs that need to be further explored and exploited. In addition, the expression levels of ToIGFs were found to be different in the different dietary groups, including the pelleted food group, the frozen squid group, and the frozen fish group. In the pelleted diet group, ToIGF1 and ToIGF2 were highly expressed in the liver and intestinal tissues, followed by the frozen fish group. These results suggest that the type of diet can affect the body's energy metabolism by influencing tissue expression of growth-related genes, which in turn affects individual growth.

Cognitive and Hippocampal Changes in Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline After Acupuncture Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Converging evidence indicates that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) could be an early indicator of dementia. The hippocampus is the earliest affected region during the progression of cognitive impairment. However, little is known about whether and how acupuncture change the hippocampal structure and function of SCD individuals. METHODS: Here, we used multi-modal MRI to reveal the mechanism of acupuncture in treating SCD. Seventy-two older participants were randomized into acupuncture or sham acupuncture group and treated for 12 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of the intervention, compared to sham acupuncture, participants with acupuncture treatment showed improvement in composite Z score from multi-domain neuropsychological tests, as well as increased hippocampal volume and functional connectivity. Moreover, the greater white matter integrity of the fornix, which is the major output tract of the hippocampus, was shown in the acupuncture group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that acupuncture may improve the cognitive function of SCD individuals, and increase hippocampal volume on the regional level and enhance the structural and functional connectivity of hippocampus on the connective level.

Acupuncture for response and complete pain relief time of acute renal colic: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The integration of acupuncture with intramuscular injection of diclofenac sodium can expedite the onset of analgesia in treating acute renal colic caused by urolithiasis. However, it remains unclear whether acupuncture can accelerate pain relief constantly until complete remission. This study aimed to explore the extent to which acupuncture can expedite the onset time of response or complete pain relief in treating acute renal colic, and the predictive value of patient characteristics for treatment efficacy. Methods: This secondary analysis utilized data from a prior randomized controlled trial. Eighty patients with acute renal colic were randomly assigned 1:1 to the acupuncture group or the sham acupuncture group. After intramuscular injection of diclofenac sodium, acupuncture or sham acupuncture was delivered to patients. The outcomes included time to response (at least a 50 % reduction in pain) and complete pain relief. Between-group comparison under the 2 events was estimated by Kaplan-Meier methodology. Subgroup analysis was performed utilizing the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The median response time and complete pain relief time in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the sham acupuncture group (5 vs 30 min, Log Rank P < 0.001; 20 min vs not observed, Log Rank P < 0.001, respectively). Hazard Ratios (HRs) for response across all subgroups favored the acupuncture group. All HRs for complete pain relief favored acupuncture, expect large stone and moderate pain at baseline. No interaction was found in either event. Conclusion: Acupuncture can accelerate the response time and complete pain relief time for patients with acute renal colic, with the efficacy universally. Trial registration: This study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900025202.

Didymin alleviates metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) via the stimulation of Sirt1-mediated lipophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is one of the most prevalent metabolic syndromes worldwide. However, no approved pharmacological treatments are available for MAFLD. Chenpi, one kind of dried peel of citrus fruits, has traditionally been utilized as a medicinal herb for liver diseases. Didymin is a newly identified oral bioactive dietary flavonoid glycoside derived from Chenpi. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Didymin as an anti-MAFLD drug and elucidated its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: High-fat diet (HFD)-induced MAFLD mice and alpha mouse liver 12 (AML12) cells were utilized to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of Didymin in the treatment of MAFLD. Liver weight, serum biochemical parameters, and liver morphology were examined to demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of Didymin in MAFLD treatment. RNA-seq analysis was performed to identify potential pathways that could be affected by Didymin. The impact of Didymin on Sirt1 was corroborated through western blot, molecular docking analysis, microscale thermophoresis (MST), and deacetylase activity assay. Then, a Sirt1 inhibitor (EX-527) was utilized to confirm that Didymin alleviates MAFLD via Sirt1. Western blot and additional assays were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: Our results suggested that Didymin may possess therapeutic potential against MAFLD in vitro and in vivo. By promoting Sirt1 expression as well as directly binding to and activating Sirt1, Didymin triggers downstream pathways that enhance mitochondrial biogenesis and function while reducing apoptosis and enhancing lipophagy. CONCLUSIONS: These suggest that Didymin could be a promising medication for MAFLD treatment. Furthermore, its therapeutic effects are mediated by Sirt1.

Genome-Wide Identification of Trachinotus ovatus Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Immune Response against Two Pathogen Challenges.

Golden pompano, Trachinotus ovatus, as a highly nutritious commercially valuable marine fish, has become one of the preferred species for many fish farmers due to its rapid growth, wide adaptability, and ease of feeding and management. However, with the expansion of aquaculture scale, bacterial and parasitic diseases have also become major threats to the golden pompano industry. This study, based on comparative genomics, shows the possibility of preferential evolution of freshwater fish over marine fish by analyzing the phylogenetic relationships and divergence times of 14 marine fish and freshwater fish. Furthermore, we identified antimicrobial peptide genes from 14 species at the genomic level and found that the number of putative antimicrobial peptides may be related to species evolution. Subsequently, we classified the 341 identified AMPs from golden pompano into 38 categories based on the classification provided by the APD3. Among them, TCP represented the highest proportion, accounting for 23.2% of the total, followed by scolopendin, lectin, chemokine, BPTI, and histone-derived peptides. At the same time, the distribution of AMPs in chromosomes varied with type, and covariance analysis showed the frequency of its repeat events. Enrichment analysis and PPI indicated that AMP was mainly concentrated in pathways associated with disease immunity. In addition, our transcriptomic data measured the expression of putative AMPs of golden pompano in 12 normal tissues, as well as in the liver, spleen, and kidney infected with Streptococcus agalactiae and skin infected with Cryptocaryon irritans. As the infection with S. agalactiae and C. irritans progressed, we observed tissue specificity in the number and types of responsive AMPs. Positive selection of AMP genes may participate in the immune response through the MAPK signaling pathway. The genome-wide identification of antimicrobial peptides in the golden pompano provided a complete database of potential AMPs that can contribute to further understanding the immune mechanisms in pathogens. AMPs were expected to replace traditional antibiotics and be developed into targeted drugs against specific bacterial and parasitic pathogens for more precise and effective treatment to improve aquaculture production.

Correction: Orexin-A Promotes Cell Migration in Cultured Rat Astrocytes via Ca2+-Dependent PKCα and ERK1/2 Signals.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095259.].

The role and safety of UVA and UVB in UV-induced skin erythema.

Background: Different wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light cause skin damage through different mechanisms. Minimal erythema dose (MED) is usually used to clinically evaluate skin sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation by inducing skin erythema using ultraviolet B (UVB) or ultraviolet A (UVA) + UVB. Aims: In this study, we detected changes in the blood flow at the MED erythema caused by UVB and UVA + UVB radiation through optical coherence tomography (OCT) to explain the role of different bands of ultraviolet rays in erythema induction. Methods: Two MED irradiation areas on the subjects' back were irradiated with UVB alone or UVA + UVB (UVA: UVB = 8:1). The absolute energy of UVB remained the same in UVB and UVA+UVB. At 24 h after the irradiation, the changes in the blood flow in the MED area were detected using OCT. Results: Compared with the blank control, the maximum blood flow depth, blood flow peak, and total blood flow of UVB-MED and UVA+UVB-MED were significantly increased. Notably, the maximum blood flow depth and blood flow peak of UVB-MED were higher than UVA+UVB-MED. There was no significant difference in total blood perfusion between UVA+UVB-MED and UVB-MED. Under the same UVB energy, the skin erythema caused by UVA + UVB was weaker than UVB alone. Conclusions: The analysis of local blood flow by OCT showed that the peak and maximum depth of local blood flow caused by UVB alone were significantly higher than UVA + UVB.

[Research progress and thinking of acupuncture in anti-inflammation by regulating autonomic nerve system].

The nervous system is the necessary condition for inducing the curative effect of acupuncture. Both the sympathetic and vagal nerve systems are widely distributed throughout the body and organically connect various systems and organs of the human body. In maintaining the coordination and unity of human physiological activities, it is in line with the holistic view and bidirectional regulation of acupuncture, and fits in with the meridian theory of "internally belonging to the Zang-fu organs and externally connecting with the limbs and joints". Acupuncture, one of the body surface stimulation therapies, can inhibit the inflammatory response via activating sympathetic/vagus nerve mediated anti-inflammatory pathways. The peripheral nerve innervating diffe-rent acupoints determines the different anti-inflammatory pathways of the autonomic nerve, and different acupuncture methods (stimulation form and stimulation amount) are important factors affecting the anti-inflammatory mechanism of the autonomic nerve. In the future, we should analyze the central integration mechanism between sympathetic nerve and vagus nerve regulated by acupuncture at the level of brain neural circuits, and clarify the "multi-target" advantage of acupuncture, so as to provide inspiration and reference for the study of neuroimmunological effects of acupuncture.

Microbial community succession in the intestine of mice with deep partial-thickness burns.

Introduction: Burn injury has been shown to lead to changes in the composition of the gut microbiome and cause other damage in patients. However, little is known about how the gut microbial community evolves in individuals who have recovered from burn injury. Methods: In this study, we established a model of deep partial-thickness burn in mice and collected fecal samples at eight time points (pre-burn, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-burn) for 16S rRNA amplification and high-throughput sequencing. Results: The results of the sequencing were analyzed using measures of alpha diversity, and beta diversity and taxonomy. We observed that the richness of the gut microbiome declined from day 7 post-burn and that the principal component and microbial community structure varied over time. On day 28 after the burn, the microbiome composition largely returned to the pre-burn level, although day 5 was a turning point for change. Some probiotics, such as the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, decreased in composition after the burn but were restored in the later recovery period. In contrast, Proteobacteria showed an opposite trend, which is known to include potential pathogenic bacteria. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate gut microbial dysbiosis after burn injury and provide new insights into the burn-related dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and strategies for improving the treatment of burn injury from the perspective of the microbiota.

Thermographic evaluation of acupoints in lower limb region of individuals with osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional case-control study protocol.

PURPOSE: Acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), but the selection of acupoints is indeterminate and lacks biological basis. The skin temperature of acupoints can reflect the state of local tissue and may be a potential factor for guiding acupoint selection. This study aims to compare the skin temperature of acupoints between KOA patients and the healthy population. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a protocol for a cross-sectional case-control study with 170 KOA patients and 170 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. Diagnosed patients aged 45 to 70 will be recruited in the KOA group. Participants in the healthy group will be matched with the KOA group based on mean age and gender distribution. Skin temperature of 11 acupoints (ST35, EX-LE5, GB33, GB34, EX-LE2, ST34, ST36, GB39, BL40, SP9, SP10) will be extracted from infrared thermography (IRT) images of the lower limbs. Other measurements will include demographic data (gender, age, ethnicity, education, height, weight, BMI) and disease-related data (numerical rating scale, pain sites, duration of pain, pain descriptors, pain activities). DISCUSSION: The results of this study will provide biological evidence for acupoint selection. This study is a precondition for follow-up studies, in which the value of optimized acupoint selection will be verified. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2200058867.

Enhanced Lip-Contour During Facial Scan for 3D DSD and Implant Planning: A Blue Screen Approach.

When obtaining 3-dimensional (3D) facial images for digital smile design (DSD) and dental implant planning, inaccuracies may frequently be introduced by distortion in the region between the lips' vermilion border and the teeth. The present clinical technique aimed to reduce such deformation during face scanning, thereby facilitating 3D DSD. This is also essential to plan bone reduction with precision for implant reconstructions. A custom-made silicone matrix acting as a blue screen provided reliable support for 3D visualization of facial images in a patient requiring a new maxillary screw-retained implant-supported fixed complete denture. Imperceptible volumetric changes were registered in the facial tissues when the silicone matrix was added. The usual deformation of the lip vermilion border originating in face scans was overcome by applying blue-screen technology with a silicone matrix. Reproducing the vermilion border of the lip contour accurately may offer improved communication and visualization for 3D DSD. The silicone matrix was a practical approach that acted as a blue screen to display the transition from lips to teeth with satisfactory precision. Implementing blue-screen technology in reconstructive dentistry might increase predictability by reducing errors when scanning objects with challenging-to-capture surfaces.

Characterization of the MMP9 Gene and Its Association with Cryptocaryon irritans Resistance Traits in Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1758).

The MMPs are endogenous proteolytic enzymes that require zinc and calcium as cofactors. MMP9 is one of the most complex matrix metalloproteinases in the gelatinase family and has many biological functions. In mammals, mmp9 is thought to be closely associated with cancer. However, studies in fish have rarely been reported. In this study, to understand the expression pattern of the ToMMP9 gene and its association with the resistance of Trachinotus ovatus to Cryptocaryon irritans, the sequence of the MMP9 gene was obtained from the genome database. The expression profiles were measured by qRT-PCR, the SNPs were screened by direct sequencing, and genotyping was performed. The ToMMP9 gene contained a 2058 bp ORF encoding a putative amino acid sequence of 685 residues. The homology of the ToMMP9 in teleosts was more than 85%, and the genome structure of ToMMP9 was conserved in chordates. The ToMMP9 gene was expressed in different tissues of healthy individuals and was highly expressed in the fin, the gill, the liver and the skin tissues. The ToMMP9 expression in the skin of the infected site and its adjacent sites increased significantly after C. irritans infection. Two SNPs were identified in the ToMMP9 gene, and the SNP (+400A/G) located in the first intron was found to be significantly associated with the susceptibility/resistance to C. irritans. These findings suggest that ToMMP9 may play an important role in the immune response of T. ovatus against C. irritans.

Psychological and neurological predictors of acupuncture effect in patients with chronic pain: a randomized controlled neuroimaging trial.

ABSTRACT: Chronic pain has been one of the leading causes of disability. Acupuncture is globally used in chronic pain management. However, the efficacy of acupuncture treatment varies across patients. Identifying individual factors and developing approaches that predict medical benefits may promise important scientific and clinical applications. Here, we investigated the psychological and neurological factors collected before treatment that would determine acupuncture efficacy in knee osteoarthritis. In this neuroimaging-based randomized controlled trial, 52 patients completed a baseline assessment, 4-week acupuncture or sham-acupuncture treatment, and an assessment after treatment. The patients, magnetic resonance imaging operators, and outcome evaluators were blinded to treatment group assignment. First, we found that patients receiving acupuncture treatment showed larger pain intensity improvements compared with patients in the sham-acupuncture arm. Second, positive expectation, extraversion, and emotional attention were correlated with the magnitude of clinical improvements in the acupuncture group. Third, the identified neurological metrics encompassed striatal volumes, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) cortical thickness, PCC/precuneus fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), striatal fALFF, and graph-based small-worldness of the default mode network and striatum. Specifically, functional metrics predisposing patients to acupuncture improvement changed as a consequence of acupuncture treatment, whereas structural metrics remained stable. Furthermore, support vector machine models applied to the questionnaire and brain features could jointly predict acupuncture improvement with an accuracy of 81.48%. Besides, the correlations and models were not significant in the sham-acupuncture group. These results demonstrate the specific psychological, brain functional, and structural predictors of acupuncture improvement and may offer opportunities to aid clinical practices.

Phytosterols as bioactive food components against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Phytosterols are bioactive food components widely present in cell membranes of plants, especially in nuts and oilseeds. In recent years, many studies have shown that phytosterols possess therapeutic potentials for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This review summarizes the effects of phytosterols from in vitro and in vivo studies to lower the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG), and the evidence supporting the potential of phytosterols against NAFLD. The potential mechanisms by which phytosterols improve NAFLD may include (i) competition with cholesterol; (ii) regulation of key factors involved in cholesterol and TG metabolism; and (iii) inhibition of liver inflammation and (iv) regulation of liver fatty acid composition. In summary, phytosterols are potential natural ingredients with good safety profile against NAFLD, which deserve more future studies.

Polyethylene glycol crosslinked decellularized single liver lobe scaffolds with vascular endothelial growth factor promotes angiogenesis in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Improving the mechanical properties and angiogenesis of acellular scaffolds before transplantation is an important challenge facing the development of acellular liver grafts. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and angiogenesis of polyethylene glycol (PEG) crosslinked decellularized single liver lobe scaffolds (DLSs), and establish its suitability as a graft for long-term liver tissue engineering. METHODS: Using mercaptoacrylate produced by the Michael addition reaction, DLSs were first modified using N-succinimidyl S-acetylthioacetate (SATA), followed by cross-linking with PEG as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The optimal concentration of agents and time of the individual steps were identified in this procedure through biomechanical testing and morphological analysis. Subsequently, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were seeded on the PEG crosslinked scaffolds to detect the proliferation and viability of cells. The scaffolds were then transplanted into the subcutaneous tissue of Sprague-Dawley rats to evaluate angiogenesis. In addition, the average number of blood vessels was evaluated in the grafts with or without PEG at days 7, 14, and 21 after implantation. RESULTS: The PEG crosslinked DLS maintained their three-dimensional structure and were more translucent after decellularization than native DLS, which presented a denser and more porous network structure. The results for Young's modulus proved that the mechanical properties of 0.5 PEG crosslinked DLS were the best and close to that of native livers. The PEG-VEGF-DLS could better promote cell proliferation and differentiation of HUVECs compared with the groups without PEG cross-linking. Importantly, the average density of blood vessels was higher in the PEG-VEGF-DLS than that in other groups at days 7, 14, and 21 after implantation in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: The PEG crosslinked DLS with VEGF could improve the biomechanical properties of native DLS, and most importantly, their lack of cytotoxicity provides a new route to promote the proliferation of cells in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo in liver tissue engineering.

Electroacupuncture vs Sham Electroacupuncture in the Treatment of Postoperative Ileus After Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer: A Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Despite the adoption of the optimized Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, postoperative ileus (POI) severely impairs recovery after colorectal resection and increases the burden on the health care system. Objective: To assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in reducing the duration of POI with the ERAS protocol. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial was conducted in China from October 12, 2020, through October 17, 2021. There was a 1:1 allocation using the dynamic block random method, and analyses were by intention to treat. Patients 18 years or older undergoing laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer for the first time were randomly assigned to treatment group by a central system. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to 4 sessions of EA or sham electroacupuncture (SA) after surgery. All patients were treated within the ERAS protocol. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the time to first defecation. Secondary outcomes included other patient-reported outcome measures, length of postoperative hospital stay, readmission rate within 30 days, and incidence of postoperative complications and adverse events. Results: A total of 249 patients were randomly assigned to treatment groups. After the exclusion of 1 patient because of a diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis, 248 patients (mean [SD] age, 60.2 [11.4] years; 153 men [61.7%]) were included in the analyses. The median (IQR) time to first defecation was 76.4 (67.6-96.8) hours in the EA group and 90.0 (73.6-100.3) hours in the SA group (mean difference, -8.76; 95% CI, -15.80 to -1.73; P = .003). In the EA group compared with the SA group, the time to first flatus (median [IQR], 44.3 [37.0-58.2] hours vs 58.9 [48.2-67.4] hours; P < .001) and the tolerability of semiliquid diet (median [IQR], 105.8 [87.0-120.3] hours vs 116.5 [92.0-137.0] hours; P = .01) and solid food (median [IQR], 181.8 [149.5-211.4] hours vs 190.3 [165.0-228.5] hours; P = .01) were significantly decreased. Prolonged POI occurred in 13 of 125 patients (10%) in the EA group vs 25 of 123 patients (20%) in the SA group (risk ratio [RR], 0.51; 95% CI, 0.27-0.95; P = .03). Other secondary outcomes were not different between groups. There were no severe adverse events. Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this randomized clinical trial demonstrated that in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer with the ERAS protocol, EA shortened the duration of POI and decreased the risk for prolonged POI compared with SA. EA may be considered as an adjunct to the ERAS protocol to promote gastrointestinal function recovery and prevent prolonged POI after surgery. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2000038444.