Activity

The network analysis method based on brain connectomics is an important entry point to explore the working mechanism of brain and is also the current trend of researches on acupuncture stimulation-induced changes of neuroimages. We, in the present review, summarized the common network analysis methods for exploring the underlying mechanisms of brain network-mediated regulatory effects of acupuncture interventions. Moreover, combining the current research development and our team’s previous research findings, we extracted the characteristics of targeting, conditionity and dynamic of regulatory effects of acupuncture-activated brain network, and put forward our prospects about the future research from the aspects of new scanning modes (for instance, multimodal data acquisition of magnetic resonance, electroencephalogram, near infrared spectrum, etc.), network analysis (such as Granger causality analysis, complex network measures, whole-brain connectivity dynamics tracking, high-order resting-state functional connectivity analysis, etc.) and experimental research paradigms (for example, introduce of transcranial magnetic stimulation induced transient changes of brain functional activity, machine learning approach, etc.).Acupuncture is effective for the management and treatment of pain related diseases. At present, the patients’subjective evaluations were often used to measure the effect of acupuncture analgesia in clinical research, but it lacks objectivity and accuracy. In recent years, some studies had tried to analyze the magnetic resonance images of patients’ brains using magne-tic resonance imaging and machine learning methods before and after acupuncture intervention, so as to identify specific neural markers. These markers not only helped explain the brain mechanism of acupuncture analgesia, but also provided objective indicators for the analgesic effect of acupuncture. This article analyzes the significance and feasibility of pain biomarkers research based on magnetic resonance imaging and machine learning technology, summarizes its research status in acupuncture analgesia, and makes suggestions in the future study.

To observe the changes of microvascular structure of acupoints caused by myocardial ischemia, so as to explore the application of photoacoustic imaging technology in the research of acupoint sensitization.

Twelve BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal, sham operation and acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) model groups, with 4 mice in each group. AMI model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded by physiological signal acquisition system at 12 h and on the 14

day after modeling, and serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The microvascular structure changes of acupoints “Feishu”(BL13), “Jueyinshu”(BL14), “Quze”(PC3) and “Chize”(LU5) were observed by photoacoustic imaging technology, and distance (DM), inflection count metric (ICM), sum of angle metric(SOAM)and microvessel density (MVD) were calculated by microvascular quantification algorithm.

Compared with the normal and sham operation groups, the ST segment of ECG was obviously elevated, serum cTnT and CK-MB were significantly increased in AMI model group at 12 h and on the 14

day after AMI (

<0.01). The ICM of BL14 in AMI model group was significantly decreased on the 14

day than that on the 7

day after AMI. Compared with the normal group, the ICM of BL14 was significantly increased in AMI model group on the 7

day after AMI(

<0.05). There were no significant changes in DM, ICM, SOAM and MVD at other acupoints on the 7

and 14

day (

>0.05) among the three groups.

The change of ICM may be one of the characteristics of acupoint sensitization and photoacoustic imaging technology can be used to study the structure of acupoint microvessels.

The change of ICM may be one of the characteristics of acupoint sensitization and photoacoustic imaging technology can be used to study the structure of acupoint microvessels.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of electrical stimulation at the rabbit sciatic nerve trunk with the body-insulated acupuncture needle whose body is painted with insulating material.

Eighteen male New Zealand rabbits were randomized into the body-insulated acupuncture needle (BIAN), the general acupuncture needle (GAN), and the blank control groups，with 6 rabbits in each group. The rats’sciatic nerve trunks in BIAN and GAN groups were stimulated by electroacupuncture with the body-insulated acupuncture needle (only allowing the uncoated needle handle and tip to conduct electricity) and the general acupuncture needle, separately. The current intensity was recorded when regular plantarflexion reflexes (sciatic nerve effector reflexes) were observed in the rabbit’s foot. The pathological changes of the sciatic nerve at the acupuncture site were observed by H.E. ZCL278 in vitro staining, and the ultrastructural changes of the sciatic nerve trunk were observed by transmission electron microscope.

The intensity of the cuonal disease was not obvious.

Insulated acupuncture needle is more accurate and safer than ordinary acupuncture needle for electrical stimulation of rabbit sciatic nerve trunk, and the required electric current intensity is smaller.

Insulated acupuncture needle is more accurate and safer than ordinary acupuncture needle for electrical stimulation of rabbit sciatic nerve trunk, and the required electric current intensity is smaller.As the living standard improves and population aging continues, the traditional cupping manipulations fail to meet the ever-growing demand for high-quality medical and health services. Aiming to address such shortcomings of traditional cupping manipulations as difficulty in achieving real-time temperature control, unsatisfactory negative pressure effect and inconve-nience to observe the internal situation, we have developed a glass cupping device with closed-loop control that could automatically integrate the acupoint-symptom analysis models. This device, composed of two cups, boasts high safety, good sealing and sound economic efficiency. The PT100 thermocouple probe and the pressure sensor equipped with P89C668 single chip microcomputer enable the multimodal integration of temperature and pressure, whose main parameters can be automatically displayed on the LED screen by the built-in data processing device. This glass cupping device with closed-loop control is an updated design for acupuncture and moxibustion based on multidisciplinary resources.