Modulating the default mode network: Antidepressant efficacy of transcutaneous electrical cranial-auricular acupoints stimulation targeting the insula.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous electrical cranial-auricular acupoint stimulation (TECAS) is a novel non-invasive therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) that stimulates acupoints innervated by the trigeminal and auricular vagus nerves. However, there are few neuroimaging studies involving the TECAS for the treatment of MDD. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the treatment response and neurological effects of TECAS using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). METHOD: A total of 34 patients with mild-to-moderate MDD and 34 demographically matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. After an eight-week treatment the primary outcome was clinical response, defined as a baseline-to-endpoint ≥ 50 % reduction in the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17). The low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) method were used to investigate the brain abnormalities of MDD patients and HCs, and altered brain networks were analyzed between pre- and post-treatment using seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis. RESULTS: We found no significant differences in terms of gender, age, and years of education between the two groups. After treatment, the response rate was 58.82 %. Compared to HCs, MDD patients showed lower ALFF values in the left insula(t = -4.298,P < 0.005), the insula-based FC revealed in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG)/ right superior frontal gyrus, orbital part (ORBsupmed) (t = -5.29,P < 0.005) and the right anterior cingulate gyrus (ACC)were decreased (t = -6.08,P < 0.005). Furthermore, Compared to pre-treatment, abnormal FC values in the ACC /orbital superior frontal gyrus (SFG) (t = 3.42,P < 0.005) and left superior frontal gyrus (SFG)/ supplement motor area (SMA) were enhanced (t = 3.34,P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: TECAS exhibits antidepressant efficacy, particularly influencing the insula-based functional connections within the Default Mode Network (DMN) related to emotion processing in individuals with MDD.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation would be an alternative to implantable cervical vagus nerve stimulation in some situation.

Implantable cervical vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS) is a representative and promising neuromodulation. However, the invasive nature restricts its application. Traditional auricular acupuncture treatment has a long history. The auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) is a branch on the surface of the ear. Some studies demonstrates that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) would achieve similar effects as iVNS. TaVNS and iVNS share a common anatomical basis and acting mechanism. In this article, we made a comparison between iVNS and taVNS in indications and efficacy. The recent studies have revealed similar clinical efficacy of taVNS, taVNS would expand the indication of iVNS. High-quality clinical evidences are needed before taVNS become be an alternative of iVNS.

Exploration of Modern Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Model：from Target to State / 中医杂志

It is the current confusion encountered by integrated Chinese and Western medicine that how to find the breakthrough direction of integrating Chinese and Western medicine， from crossover to integration to innovation， and open up a new horizon of integrated Chinese and Western medicine. The progress of Chinese medicine lay in expanding the scope of diagnosis and treatment with the help of modern diagnostic and therapeutic equipments and developing “micro” identification， while the progress of Western medicine lay in looking at “macro” and developing systemic medicine and integrated medicine， both of which are in the direction of each other. The “state-target identification and treatment” may become an important way to build a modern diagnosis and treatment system of integrated Chinese and Western medicine， and the thinking mode of “from target to state” is a further refinement and development on the basis of the theoretical system of “state-target identification and treatment”， which provided a clearer solution for the current stage of the integrated Chinese and Western medicine model， and pointed out the important development direction for the future integrated Chinese and Western medicine. From the perspective of strategic level and diagnosis and treatment practice， it integrated the “target-state” thinking mode into the modern diagnosis and treatment model of the integrated Chinese and Western medicine， i.e.， “Western medicine as the basis and treating with Chinese medicine； Chinese medicine as the basis and treating with Western medicine”. On the one hand， Western medicine should strengthen the reference to the traditional theories and holism of Chinese medicine， and advocate a higher level of education on the integrated Chinese and Western medicine under the guidance of the traditional theories of Chinese medicine. On the other hand， the “from target to state” mode of thinking should be applied to guide the establishment of diagnostic and treatment strategies and clinical selection of medicines in clinical practice， so as to locate the target and adjust the body state in a gradual and orderly manner， and to provide practical methods for the modern clinical work of the integrated Chinese and Western medicines. Chinese and Western medicine systems can learn from each other， combine organically， give full play to their respective strengths， and form an internal law， so as to make breakthroughs and innovations in the integrated Chinese and Western medicine model.

Preliminary single-arm study of brain effects during transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation treatment of recurrent depression by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the brain effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) treatment of recurrent depression based on the functional brain network by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). METHODS: Twenty-five patients with recurrent depression were enrolled in a single-arm trial of taVNS treatment for eight weeks. Clinical results were assessed by 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) scales. Resting-state fMRI was conducted to explore the brain effects before and after treatment. For the functional connectivity (FC) analysis, the bilateral nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, caudate, and putamen were selected as seeds. Finally, the correlations between FC and the clinical scale scores were calculated. RESULTS: After treatment, the patients' scores of HAMD-17, HAMA, SDS, SAS, and RRS were significantly decreased ( < 0.05). FC was considerably decreased between the following areas: the left globus pallidus and the right postcentral gyrus, inferior parietal gyrus, the right globus pallidus and the left superior marginal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, superior parietal gyrus, inferior parietal gyrus, precuneus, right postcentral gyrus, superior marginal gyrus, and inferior parietal gyrus, between the right caudate and the right lingual gyrus, calcarine gyrus, and cerebellum. Changes in FC between the right globus pallidus and the left inferior parietal gyrus, between the left globus pallidus and the right postcentral gyrus were negatively correlated with HAMD-17 scores change before and after treatment (before, = 0.003, = -0.6; after, 0.009,= -0.54). The change of FC between the right globus pallidus and the right postcentral gyrus was negatively correlated with the change in SDS (= 0.026,= -0.474). The difference in FC between the right globus pallidus and the right postcentral gyrus was negatively correlated with the change in SAS (= 0.016,= -0.513). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent depression could be effectively treated with taVNS. The changes in brain FC involving the basal ganglia, default mode, and sensorimotor networks provide insight into the effects of taVNS treatment on recurrent depression.

Feasibility study of acupuncture treatment on the miniature pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective To explore the feasibility of needle-embedding therapy in the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia using a miniature pig model established by placement of an Ameroid constrictor at the left anterior descending branch (LAD) of coronary artery in Bama miniature pigs during surgery. Methods The miniature pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia was established by placement of an Ameroid constrictor at the left anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery in Bama miniature pigs. The pig models were randomly divided into the treatment group (the"Neiguan " group) and the control group (the "Zusanli " group), and were treated with needle- embedding electroacupuncture at the"Neiguan" (PC6) and "Zusanli" (ST36) acupoints, respectively. Myocardial samples were taken at 6 weeks after surgery for light and electron microscopic examinations. Results Gross pathology showed that ischemic area in the myocardium appeared in both experimental groups. The ischemic area in the "Zusanli "group was larger than that of the"Neiguan"group. Histopathology showed that the acupuncture treatment at the"Neiguan"acupoint reduced the ischemic injury in the pig myocardial tissues. Ultrastructural observation of the myocardium showed mitochondrial vacuolization in cardiomyocytes and myocardial fibrosis in both groups. Conclusions Acupuncture therapy at the"Neiguan"acupoint of pericardial channel may exert protective effect on the myocardial ischemia by reducing the ischemia-injury of cardiomyocytes, but can not inhibit the already existed ischemia-induced cardiomyocytic injuries. Our findings suggest that the establishment of miniature pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia by surgically placing an Ameroid constrictor on the left anterior descending branch of left coronary artery and the needle-embedding in acupoints is feasible for the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia in this pig model.

Experiment design and feasibility of BOLD and MRS multimodal fMRI in analysis of brain effect induced by acupuncture / 中国医学影像技术

Objective To establish the methodology of combining BOLD and 1H-MRS for investigating correlation between the deactivation in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration by acupuncture at LI4 (Point Hegu),and to optimize the experimental technique and procedure.Methods Twenty healthy adult volunteers were enrolled.During fMRI-BOLD scanning,each subject received acupuncture at right LI4 (Point Hegu).MRS scanning was based on MEGA-PRESS sequence,and ROIs were located at bilateral MPFC.The task BOLD fMRI was block design,including 3 stimulations (30 s) with 2 intervals (2 min).Then MRS scanning was performed before and after BOLD.The quantitative values of the BOLD positive and negative activations (Pm) and GABA concentrations were calculated.Results All 20 subjects completed BOLD fMRI scanning,and met the postprocessing requirements.MRS images of 9 subjects with good image quality were included in analysis.Among all 20 subjects,positive activation (Pm=1.17± 0.16) was observed in 9,while negative activation (Pm =-1.31 ± 0.17) was observed in 11 subjects.The GABA average values before and after the acupuncture were (19.93 ±1.04) nmol/L and (20.04±0.81)nmol/L,respectively,and the average amplitude between post-and pre-acupuncture was (0.11 ± 1.60)nmol/L.Conclusion The success rate of this method for quantitative study of brain function established multimodal-functional (BOLD-fMRI and MRS) was acceptable,and the multimodal brain function changes as well as the quantitative values were observed in the brain region during acupuncture.Combined BOLD and MRS quantitative method is feasible for testing acupuncture response in the brain.

Research Development of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Vascular Depression / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

The paper was aimed to summarize the development of vascular depression (VD) in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of brain research,including diffusion tensor imaging and blood oxygenation level dependentfMRI.Through the real-time imaging of brain tissues and brain function in VD patients,it was found that the neurological and brain function in the brain regions related to depression were changed.The main pathologic changes were abnormal white matter hyperintensities of the brains.The key link of VD pathogenesis was that limbic systemcortex-striatum-thalamus circuits were destroyed.And the main performance of VD in fMRI was abnormal brain function connection in prefrontal cortex,limbic cortex (i.e.,cingulate gyrus,hippocampal gyrus),amygdala,cerebellum,and etc.in fMRI.The pathogenesis of VD was complex.As a noninvasive living brain function detection technique,fMRI will play an important role in the comprehensive understanding of VD and provide new ideas in clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Guidelines for hybrid PET/MR in brain imaging (2017 Edition) / 中国医学影像技术

The hybrid PET/MR has been gradually applied in clinical practice.However,the hybrid PET/MR is a com plex advanced technique,and it brings to the new challenges,especially regarding the workflow and scan protocols.The guidelines for hybrid PET/MR in brain imaging include information related to the indications and contraindications,preparation before examination,procedures of examination (PET imaging,conventional MRI brain imaging and special MRI imaging for brain disease),application of radiopharmaceutical and MRI contrast-enhanced agent.The purpose of the guidelines is to offer a framework that would be practical and helpful for clinical PET/MR brain imaging.In PET tracers,the guidelines only limit to the 18 F-FDG.

Guidelines for nursing in hybrid PET/MR imaging (2017 Edition) / 中国医学影像技术

The guidelines for standard nursing in the PET/MR imaging examination included preparation of examination,injecting drug,observing during scanning,post scanning care,management of adverse reaction of contrast agent and radiation protection.The purpose of these guidelines could were to provide the practical and effective management for nursing care in PET/MR imaging,and offer a framework for nurses that could provide useful and helpful in clinical practice and research.