Monolayer NbSe2 Favors Ultralow Friction and Super Wear Resistance.

The urgent demand for atomically thin, superlubricating, and super wear-resistant materials in micro/nanoelectromechanical systems has stimulated the research of friction-reducing and antiwear materials. However, the fabrication of subnanometer-thick films with superlubricating and super wear-resistant properties under ambient conditions remains a huge challenge. Herein, high-quality monolayer (ML) NbSe2 (∼0.8 nm) with ultralow friction and super wear resistance in an atmospheric environment was successfully grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) for the first time. Moreover, compared with few-layered (FL) NbSe2, ML NbSe2 has a lower friction coefficient and better wear resistance. On the basis of density function theory (DFT) calculations, the adhesion and the degree of charge transfer between ML NbSe2 and the substrate is larger than that of the topmost layer to the underlying layers of NbSe2 with two or more layers, which can be used to explain that the ML NbSe2 favors ultralow friction and super wear resistance.

Analytical method for calculating internal stray radiation from an IR spectrometer based on the view factor.

Optomechanical components such as the lens barrels and frames of IR spectrometers produce strong internal stray radiation, which reduces the instrument's SNR and dynamic range. An IR internal stray radiation calculation method based on an analytical model of the view factor is proposed. The mathematical model of the view factor calculation method of typical optomechanical components is established. For any IR optical systems, the internal stray radiation can be quickly and accurately calculated by adjusting the coordinate systems in the calculation method. Based on the proposed method, the internal stray radiation of a double-pass long-wave IR spectrometer was calculated. The calculation results are consistent with the simulation results. The RMS value of the relative error between the calculated value and the simulated value is around 11%. To verify the proposed method, an experiment was conducted to test the internal stray radiation of the long-wave IR spectrometer. The internal stray radiation test results agree with the calculated and simulated results, and the relative error between the test results and the calculation results is within 9%.

Electroacupuncture Improves Depression-Like Behavior by Regulating the Abundance of Lactobacillus and Staphylococci in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that gut microbiota can affect depression-like behavior, and electroacupuncture (EA) can regulate the composition and abundance of gut microbiota. At the same time, not a lot of research has been done on how EA affects gut microbiota to depression-like behavior. The objective of this study was to study the associated mechanisms by which EA exerts antidepressant effects by modulating gut microbiota. METHODS: Twenty-four C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into three groups, one group (n = 8) was the normal control group (NC). And the other two groups was chronic unpredictable mild stress for modeling + electroacupuncture group (CUMS + EA) (n = 8) and chronic unpredictable mild stress for modeling group (CUMS) (n = 8). Both CUMS and EA groups were subjected to 28 days of CUMS, but only the EA group received an additional 14 days of EA procedure. Behavior tests were used to determine the antidepressant effect of EA. Sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was applied to examine alterations in the intestinal microbiome between groups. RESULTS: The findings were compared to those of the NC group, the sucrose preference rate and the total distance of Open Field Test (OFT) in CUMS group decreased, the abundance of Lactobacillus decreased, while the abundance of staphylococci increased. After the intervention of EA, the sucrose preference index and the total distance of OFT increased, the abundance of Lactobacillus increased, while the abundance of staphylococci decreased. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated EA may play an antidepressant effect by adjusting the abundance of Lactobacillus and staphylococci.

Thermally Induced Reversible Fluorescence Switching of Lead Chloride Hybrids for Anticounterfeiting and Encryption.

Metal halide hybrids with thermally induced fluorescence transition have the potential to be utilized as the next generation of smart materials in optoelectronic devices. However, the fabrication of thermochromic materials with simultaneously reversible and lower transition temperatures is still a challenge. Herein, we present a novel one-dimensional (1D) organic-inorganic lead chloride hybrid (TPA)PbCl3-Green (TPA = tetrapropylammonium) single crystal that exhibits green emission and up to 30% photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). It is worth noting that the (TPA)PbCl3-Green crystal changes emission from green to blue light when heated at 323 K. The emission spectra indicate that the blue light is attributed to the combination of two emission peaks located at 438 and 520 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the green luminescence is restored after natural cooling to room temperature. The dynamic transition process is demonstrated via steady-state photoluminescence, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). (TPA)PbCl3-Green crystals and (TPA)PbCl3-Green@PVP complexes have also been explored as fluorescent security inks for dynamic anticounterfeiting and message encryption as well as optical logic gate applications due to the excellent cycling stability and low transition temperature. This material offers a completely new option for thermochromic materials used for security information.

Autoantibody against angiotensin II type I receptor induces pancreatic ß-cell apoptosis via enhancing autophagy.

Autoantibody against the angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1-AA) has been found in the serum of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, it remains unclear whether AT1-AA induces ß-cell apoptosis and participates in the development of DM. In this study, an AT1-AA-positive rat model was set up by active immunization, and AT1-AA IgG was purified. INS-1 cells were treated with AT1-AA, and cell viability, apoptosis, and autophagy-related proteins were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis, respectively. Results showed that existence of AT1-AA impaired the islet function and increased the apoptosis of pancreatic islet cells in rats, and the autophagy level in rat pancreatic islet tissues tended to increase gradually with the prolongation of immunization time. AT1-AA markedly reduced INS-1 cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis, and decreased insulin secretion in vitro. In addition, the autophagy level was gradually increased along with the prolongation of AT1-AA treatment time. Meanwhile, it was determined that treatment with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) blocker telmisartan could improve insulin secretion and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, it is deduced that upregulation of autophagy contributed to the AT1-AA-induced ß-cell apoptosis and islet dysfunction, and AT1R mediated the signal transduction.

RhB-Embedded Zirconium-Naphthalene-Based Metal-Organic Framework Composite as a Luminescent Self-Calibrating Platform for the Selective Detection of Inorganic Ions.

A series of dye@MOF composites were synthesized through in situ encapsulation of luminous rhodamine B (RhB) molecules into a blue-emissive zirconium-naphthalene-based metal-organic framework (Zr-MOF). The fabricated RhB@Zr-MOF composites exhibit tunable dual-emissive characteristics due to the process of resonant energy transfer from Zr-MOF to RhB. Notably, one of the RhB@Zr-MOF composites (R@D3) exhibited a weak emission at 420 nm and a strong emission at 607 nm, for which the two emissions possess large distinctions in location and intensity and can be referenced with each other in sensing analytes. By using relative fluorescence intensity instead of their absolute fluorescence intensity as the detection signals, R@D3 served as a built-in self-calibrated platform to selectively detect Fe3+ and Cr2 O7 2- ions in water. Compared with the pristine Zr-MOF, the R@D3 composite shows enhanced sensing selectivity to Fe3+ and higher sensibility to Cr2 O7 2- . This study displays the advantages of combining organic dyes with robust Zr-MOFs in tuning fluorescence and sensing performance.

EA Ameliorated Depressive Behaviors in CUMS Rats and Was Related to Its Suppressing Autophagy in the Hippocampus.

Autophagy is confirmed to be involved in the onset and development of depression, and some antidepressants took effect by influencing the autophagic process. Electroacupuncture (EA), as a common complementary treatment for depression, may share the mechanism of influencing autophagy in the hippocampus like antidepressants. To investigate that, sixty Sprague-Dawley rats firstly went through chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model establishment, and 15 rats were assigned to a control group. After modeling, 45 successfully CUMS-induced rats were randomly divided to 3 groups: CUMS, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and EA groups (15 rats per group), to accept different interventions for 2 weeks. A sucrose preference test (SPT), weighing, and open field test (OFT) were measurement for depressive behaviors of rats. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blot analysis were used to evaluate the autophagic changes. After that, depression-like behaviors were successfully induced in CUMS models and reversed by SSRI and EA treatments (both p < 0.05), but these two therapies had nonsignificant difference between each other (p > 0.05). Autolysosomes observed through TEM in the CUMS group were more than that in the control group. Their number and size in the SSRI and EA groups also decreased significantly. From IHC, the CUMS group showed enhanced positive expression of both Beclin1 and LC3 in CA1 after modeling (p < 0.05), and the LC3 level declined after EA treatments, which was verified by decreased LC3-II/LC3-I in western blot analysis. We speculated that CUMS-induced depression-like behavior was interacted with an autophagy process in the hippocampus, and EA demonstrated antidepressant effects by partly inhibiting autophagy with a decreased number of autolysosomes and level of LC3 along with LC3-II/LC3-I.

Double-Vacancy Controlled Friction on Graphene: The Enhancement of Atomic Pinning.

The vacancy-enhanced contact friction of graphene is mainly attributed to the vacancy-enhanced out-of-plane deformation flexibility of the graphene and the climbing of the tip out of the vacancy trap (which actually acts as a step edge). However, this mechanism does not apply for explaining the enhanced friction caused by small-sized vacancies that are unable to accommodate the tip, such as single vacancy and double vacancies, which also commonly exist in the graphene. In the present study, by performing a set of classic molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrated that the double-vacancy defect in graphene substantially enhanced the contact friction when the tip slides over it and the pinning effect of the reconstructed lattice of the double-vacancy defect with atoms at the bottom of the tip dominated such an influence. The underlying mechanism of such an atomic pinning effect and the influence of the normal load, sliding direction, and the sliding velocity were unveiled by analyzing the obtained friction evolution and the atomic configuration and interaction between the tip and the graphene. We believe that the findings presented in this study complete the state-of-art understanding of the nanoscale friction behaviors of vacancy-defected graphene, which is essential for the implementation of their potential control.

iTRAQ-Based Protein Profiling in CUMS Rats Provides Insights into Hippocampal Ribosome Lesion and Ras Protein Changes Underlying Synaptic Plasticity in Depression.

Hippocampal atrophy is one of the key changes in the brain implicated in the biology of depression. However, the precise molecular mechanism remains poorly understood due to a lack of biomarkers. In this research, we used behavioral experiments to evaluate anxiety and anhedonia levels in depressed rats using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) modeling. We also used isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) to identify the differentially expressed hippocampal proteins between depressed and normal rats. Bioinformatics analyses were also performed for a better understanding. The results showed that CUMS rats had higher anxiety and anhedonia levels than control rats, along with hippocampal lesions. Through iTRAQ and bioinformatics analyses, we found that ribosome proteins were significantly downregulated and Ras proteins exhibited a mixed change in the hippocampus of depressed rats. These findings suggest that the expression of hippocampal ribosome lesions and Ras proteins is significantly different in depressed rats than in control rats, providing new insights into the neurobiology of depression.

Bio-inspired hierarchical wearable patch for fast sweat collection.

Sweat contains abundant physiological and metabolic data to evaluate an individual's physical health. Since the non-exercise sweat secretion rate is low, with an average value of 1-10 µl h-1 cm-2, sweat is generally collected during exercise for existing wearable sweat sensors. To expand their applications to include daily scenarios, these sensors developed for sports and fitness are challenged by the difficulty of collecting trace amounts of sweat. This study proposes a wearable patch inspired by the hierarchical structure of Sarracenia trichomes, allowing for the spontaneous and fast collection of a small amount of secreted sweat. The patch contains microfluidic channels featuring a 20 µm-wide rib structure, fully utilizing the capillary force, thereby eliminating the issue of sweat hysteresis. Furthermore, with only 0.5 µl of the sweat secreted at the collection site, it can converge on the detection medium located within the center reservoir. Volunteer verification demonstrated a twofold increase in sweat collection efficiency compared to traditional wearable patches. This patch serves as an efficient sweat-collection configuration, promising potential for diverse in situ sweat colorimetric analyses.

Bioassessment of environmental quality based on taxonomic and functional traits of marine nematodes in the Bohai Sea, China.

Free-living marine nematodes are valuable biological indicators for different environmental disturbances. Their taxonomic composition and functional traits often respond to environmental changes. In this study, marine nematodes, collected from the Bohai sea on the northeastern coast of China in 2014, were investigated in terms of their taxonomic composition and functional traits. Furthermore, the environmental quality of the investigated area was assessed based on nematode metrics. The studied nematode community showed spatial variation in taxonomic and functional composition, in response to changes in environmental variables such as sediment chlorophyll-a, phaeophytin-a, organic matter content, silt-clay content etc. Overall, high percentage of tolerant marine nematodes species or colonizers predominated, suggesting a disturbed environmental condition of the study area. Further results from the environmental quality assessment based on nematode metrics indicated a moderate quality status at the most investigated stations.

Sn(II)-doped one-dimensional hybrid metal halide [C5H14NO]CdCl3 single crystals with broadband greenish-yellow light emission.

Low-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid halides, as an important branch of metal halide materials, have attracted much attention due to their excellent photoelectric properties. Herein, we designed one new hybrid cadmium chloride [C5H14NO]CdCl3 based on combinations of the d10 metal cation (Cd2+) and choline chloride molecules. [C5H14NO]CdCl3 single crystals belong to the orthorhombic Pna21 space group and show a one-dimensional (1D) structure with distorted [CdCl5O]5- octahedra. The second harmonic generation (SHG) response of [C5H14NO]CdCl3 exhibits an intensity of approximately 0.4 × KDP. Moreover, the photoluminescence properties of the [C5H14NO]CdCl3 crystal are activated by doping with Sn2+ ions having stereochemically active lone pair 5s2 electrons. Under UV excitation conditions, bright greenish-yellow light emission can be observed, and the quantum efficiency (PLQY) is as high as 91.27%. The luminescence mechanism is revealed by combining the results of temperature dependent luminescence and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. This work can serve as a guide for the design and synthesis of emerging optical materials.

Electroacupuncture alleviated depression-like behaviors in ventromedial prefrontal cortex of chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced rats: Increasing synaptic transmission and phosphorylating dopamine transporter.

AIMS: Electroacupuncture (EA) shows advantages in both clinical practice and depression animal models. Dopaminergic-related dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) may be a hidden antidepressant mechanism of EA, where dopamine transporter (DAT) plays an essential role. This study aimed to investigate the synaptic transmission and DAT-related changes of EA in depression. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 3-week chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The successfully modeled rats were then randomly and equally assigned to CUMS, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and EA or SSRI + EA groups, followed by a 2-week treatment respectively. After monitoring body weight and behavioral tests of all rats, the ventromedial PFC (vmPFC) tissue was collected for electrophysiology and the expression detection of DAT, phosphorylated DAT (p-DAT), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), and trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). RESULTS: Depressive-like behaviors induced by CUMS were alleviated by EA, SSRI, and SSRI + EA treatments through behavioral tests. Compared with CUMS group, EA improved synaptic transmission in vmPFC by upregulating spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents amplitude. Molecularly, EA reversed the increased total DAT and p-DAT expression as well as the decreased ratio of p-DAT/total DAT along with the activation of TAAR1, cAMP, and PKA in vmPFC. CONCLUSION: We speculated that the antidepressant effect of EA was associated with enhanced synaptic transmission in vmPFC, and the upregulated phosphorylation of DAT relevant to TAAR1, cAMP, and PKA may be the potential mechanism.

Design of a Low Respiratory Resistance Mask for COVID-19.

Observational evidence suggests that mask-wearing mitigates transmission of COVID-19; at the same time high respiratory resistance leads to an unwillingness to wear masks. This paper proposed a respiratory drive structure to reduce the air resistance of a mask. This structure provides different shapes during expiration and inspiration while focusing on filtering dust, bacteria, or viruses. Meanwhile, the assembled system on the mask can be disassembled and replaced. Then porous media simulation is used to verify the model effect. Experimental results of a new mask show that the ventilation resistance is reduced by 20%, and the bacterial filtration efficiency meets the requirements of YY 0469-2011.

Bottom aquaculture can improve the basic trophic pathways and enhance the secondary production: Implications from benthic food web analysis.

To evaluate the impact of bottom aquaculture on benthic ecosystems, characteristics of benthic food web were studied using stable isotope techniques during four seasons in a Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) bottom aquaculture area in a semi-enclosed bay, China. Results showed that although nitrogen stable isotope values of food sources (particulate organic matter and phytoplankton) had significant seasonal differences, there were no significant seasonal changes for benthic food web structure. Manila clam bottom aquaculture can enhance the secondary productivity and improve the basic trophic pathways by providing bio-deposits. Besides particulate organic matter and phytoplankton, Manila clam could feed on self-generated feces with high nitrogen stable isotope values, and benthic micro- and macroalga with high carbon stable isotope values. Secondary productivity of the stations with a high degree of aquaculture was higher than that of stations with a low degree. Bivalve bottom culture may have a positive impact on benthic ecosystem functioning.

Development of Pressure Sensor Based Wearable Pulse Detection Device for Radial Pulse Monitoring.

Wearable pulse detection devices can be used for daily human healthcare monitoring; however, the relatively poor flexibility and low sensitivity of the pulse detection devices are hindering the scrutiny of pulse information during pulse diagnosis of different pulse positions. This paper developed a novel and wearable pulse detection device based on three flexible pressure sensors using synthetic graphene and silver composites as the pressure sensing material. The structural design of the pulse detection device is firstly presented; the core component of pressure sensors is using the sawtooth protrusions to convert pressure induced by radial pulse vibrations into localized deformation of graphene composites. The fabricated pulse detection device is characterized by high pressure sensing performance, including relatively high sensitivity (8.65% kPa-1), broad sensing range (12 kPa), and good dynamic response with a response time of about 100 ms. Then, the pulse detection device is worn on a human wrist to detect the pulses from three pulse positions, namely, 'Cun', 'Guan', and 'Chi', and the results demonstrated the capability of using our device to detect pulse signals. The physical conditions of the subject, such as arterial stiffness index, can be further analyzed through the characteristics of the acquired pulse signals, demonstrating the potential application of using wearable pulse detection devices for human health monitoring.

Acupuncture for cancer-related insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related insomnia is a highly prevalent complaint in cancer patients. However, there is no meta-analytic synthesis explored the efficacy of acupuncture for cancer-related insomnia among cancer patients undergoing active cancer treatments. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to explore the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for insomnia in people diagnosed with cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of existing randomized controlled trials on acupuncture in the treatment of cancer-related insomnia. METHODS: According to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) Statement, we identified and extracted the trials through November 2021 from ten databases and two trials record platforms (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Allied and Complementary Medicine, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Digital Journals, ClinicalTrials, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform). The quality of the trials was assessed using Jadad score and Risk of Bias (2.0). A meta-analysis was synthesized using the random-effects model if the included studies were in high methodological quality. RESULTS: A total of 690 studies were identified, with 22 were included in the review, and 6 of them were included in the quantitative synthesis. Studies were highly heterogeneous in terms of participant characteristics and study methodologies. Most studies recruited patients diagnosed with a specific cancer type, and breast cancer patients were the subgroup most represented. The qualitative review of available evidence suggested a beneficial efficacy of acupuncture on sleep without serious adverse events in several studies (55%). The meta-analysis revealed that acupuncture produced a significant improvement in the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score relative to the wait-list control among breast cancer patients undergoing active cancer treatments (MD -1.92, 95% CI -3.25 to -0.59, p = 0.005). Similar improvement of real and sham acupuncture on PSQI score change post-intervention was found (MD: -0.68, 95% CI: -2.44 to 1.07, p = 0.44). Manual acupuncture had similar effective rate as compared to estazolam immediately post-intervention (RR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.87 to 1.01, p = 0.09), and had significantly better effective rate than estazolam at 1-week post-intervention follow-up (RR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.43, p = 0.0009). All reported acupuncture related adverse events were mild or moderate in severity. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture has great potential to be used to manage cancer-related insomnia for cancer patients or survivors. More studies with rigorous designs and larger sample size are warranted to verify the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for insomnia among people diagnosed with cancer, in particular among those with clinically significant insomnia. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021285844).

Bioinspired Rotation Microneedles for Accurate Transdermal Positioning and Ultraminimal-Invasive Biomarker Detection with Mechanical Robustness.

Microneedle permits transdermal biosensing and drug delivery with minor pain. However, accurate microneedle transdermal positioning with minimal skin deformation remains a significant technical challenge due to inhomogeneous skin topology and discontinuous force applied to the microneedle. Here, we introduce bioinspired rotation microneedles for in vivo accurate microneedle positioning as inspired by honeybees' stingers. We demonstrate the benefits of rotation microneedles in alleviating skin resistance through finite element analysis, full-thickness porcine validations, and mathematical derivations of microneedle-skin interaction stress fields. The max penetration force was mitigated by up to 45.7% and the force attenuation rate increased to 2.73 times in the holding stage after penetration. A decrease in max skin deflection and a faster deformation recovery introduced by rotation microneedles implied a more precise penetration depth. Furthermore, we applied the rotation microneedles in psoriasis mice, a monogenic disorder animal model, for minimally invasive biological sample extraction and proinflammatory cytokine monitoring. An ultrasensitive detection method is realized by using only one microneedle to achieve cytokine mRNA level determination compared to commonly required biopsies or blood collection. Thus, rotation microneedles permit a simple, rapid, and ultraminimal-invasive method for subcutaneous trace biological sample acquisition and subsequent point-of-care diagnostics with minimal damage to both microneedles and skins.

In-situ growth of robust superlubricated nano-skin on electrospun nanofibers for post-operative adhesion prevention.

It is a great challenge to achieve robustly bonded, fully covered, and nanoscaled coating on the surface of electrospun nanofibers. Herein, we develop a controllable, facile, and versatile strategy to in-situ grow superlubricated nano-skin (SLNS) on the single electrospun nanofiber. Specifically, zwitterionic polymer chains are generated from the nanofiber subsurface in an inside-out way, which consequently form a robust network interpenetrating with the polymeric chains of the nanofiber matrix. The nanofibers with SLNS are superlubricated with the coefficient of friction (COF) lower than 0.025, which is about 16-fold of reduction than the original nanofibers. The time-COF plot is very stable after 12, 000 cycles of friction test, and no abrasion is observed. Additionally, the developed nanofibrous membranes possess favorable tensile property and biocompatibility. Furthermore, the nanofibrous membranes with SLNS achieve prevention of post-operative adhesion, which is confirmed in both rat tendon adhesion model and abdominal adhesion model. Compared with clinically-used antiadhesive membranes such as Interceed and DK-film, our nanofibrous membranes are not only more effective but also have the advantage of lower production cost. Therefore, this study demonstrates a potential of the superlubricated nanofibrous membranes in-situ grown based on a SLNS strategy for achieving prevention of post-operative adhesion in clinics.

Electroacupuncture as a rapid-onset and safer complementary therapy for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) is a promising therapy for depression. However, a comprehensive review of EA for depression is needed. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EA for depression. Potentially relevant trials and reviews were searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL from inception to March 2022. EA alone and combined with other therapy were eligible for inclusion. The severity of depression during and after treatment and the number of adverse events were assessed as outcomes. Risk of bias (ROB) evaluation, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, reporting bias assessment, and GRADE system evaluation were also conducted. Results: Thirty-four trials were included. The overall ROB was medium. Low-quality evidence showed that the efficacy of EA was not less than that of antidepressants [EA + selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)] and manual acupuncture (MA). EA and EA + SSRIs had better efficacy than SSRIs alone in decreasing the severity of depression during the early treatment. Moderate-quality evidence also showed that EA and EA + SSRIs were safer than SSRIs alone. Sensitivity analysis was mostly not feasible. Major publication bias was unlikely. Conclusion: These results indicate that the efficacy of EA is not less than that of antidepressants and MA. Moreover, EA and EA + SSRI treatments show a more rapid onset and greater safety than SSRIs. More high-quality trials are needed for further confirmation. Systematic review registration: [www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_ record.php?RecordID=329143], identifier [CRD42022329143].