Vascular dementia (VD) is a severe cognitive impairment syndrome resulting from various cerebrovascular diseases and is one of the leading causes of senile dementia. In recent years, its incidence has been steadily increasing. Given the lack of specific treatments for VD, early detection, diagnosis, and intervention are critically important. This review examines the existing literature on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) in the context of VD, with a focus on key metrics such as amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity (FC). By analyzing changes in brain functional activity in VD patients as observed through rs-fMRI, this study aims to provide essential imaging insights that could support and enhance clinical treatment strategies.

Background:Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as coronary artery atherosclerosis, is a highly prevalent and deadly disease worldwide, posing a serious threat to human health. There is an urgent need for more convenient and cost-effective treatment modalities to improve the symptoms and prognosis of patients. Method:This article reviews existing studies on acupuncture treatment of CHD using the Neiguan acupoint (PC6), which is documented in traditional Chinese medicine for alleviating "chest congestion" and "heartache" and is a hot topic in modern clinical research. Results:Acupuncture, particularly at PC6, has unique advantages in effectively relieving the clinical symptoms of CHD patients. Conclusions:The review aims to assist in the clinical application of PC6 acupuncture for CHD by summarizing current evidence.

Background:This study analyzed the research status, hotspots, and trends of acupuncture treatment for insomnia using bibliometrics and scientific knowledge mapping methods. Methods:We searched for records associated with studies focusing on acupuncture treatment for insomnia collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), from the establishment of the database to December 31, 2022, was retrieved. Visualization analysis was conducted using Excel 2021, CiteSpace 6.2.R5, and VOSviewer 1.6.19 software. Results:A total of 873 articles were obtained from the WoSCC database. The annual publications showed an overall upward trend, especially from 2018 to 2022, with a rapid increase in publications. Literature output was concentrated in China and the United States, accounting for 43.41% and 22.4% of the total research output, respectively. The highest-yield journal was Medicine and the most cited journal was Sleep. Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine had the highest publication outputs (51 articles) and the strongest influence (0.18) among institutions. "Fibromyalgia" was the earliest and longest-lasting keyword. "Older adults" was the keyword with the highest burst intensity. The keywords "model," "stroke," "blind," "clinical practice guideline," "risk," "symptoms," "Shenmen (HT7)," and "Neiguan (PC6)" have been continuously trending, indicating that these keywords are current research hotspots and trends. In terms of acupoint selection, "HT7" and "PC6" acupoints are at the frontier of current research. In terms of disease types, poststroke insomnia treated with acupuncture has become a current research frontier. In terms of animal experiments, the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for insomnia through establishing rat models is at the forefront. Attention has been given to controlling bias risk in experiments, becoming a current hotspot and frontier. Conclusion:This study comprehensively investigated the current status, hotspots, and frontier trends of acupuncture for insomnia. Its research hotspots included acupuncture for poststroke insomnia, and research trends were the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for insomnia through establishing rat models.

Background:Primary insomnia (PI) is a prevalent sleep disorder that significantly impacts quality of life. While pharmacological treatments are common, concerns about side effects and dependency have led to increased interest in non-pharmacological alternatives. This study systematically evaluates the efficacy and safety of various non-pharmacological therapies for adult PI through a network meta-analysis, providing evidence-based guidance for clinicians. Methods:We analyzed 53 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 4,181 adults with PI. The included studies assessed 11 non-pharmacological interventions, such as acupuncture, acupressure, cupping therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), alongside control groups (e.g., placebo, waitlist, and pharmacological comparators). Primary outcomes included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and sleep latency (SL). Data synthesis was performed using STATA 17 software with a random-effects model, and evidence quality was appraised using the GRADE framework. Results:Pooled analyses revealed that all seven non-pharmacological therapies significantly improved PI outcomes compared to controls. Acupuncture reduced PSQI scores by -2.71 points (95% confidence interval (CI): -4.94 to -0.49) versus waitlist, while acupuncture showed a - 1.81 point reduction (95% CI: -2.93 to -0.68). For SE, acupressure and CBT increased SE by 1.48% (95% CI: 0.56-2.39) and 1.34% (95% CI: 0.70-1.98), respectively, compared to SH. Notably, CBT and acupressure shortened SL by approximately 10 min (e.g., CBT: -10.15 min, 95% CI: -11.79 to -8.52 vs. benzodiazepines), while acupressure extended TST by 2.07 h (95% CI: 0.46-3.68). SUCRA rankings identified CBT as the most effective for reducing SL (85.8% probability) and improving SE (89.2%), whereas acupuncture excelled in increasing TST (84.8%). Adverse events were infrequent and mild, primarily limited to transient localized reactions in acupuncture studies. Conclusion:This study demonstrates that non-pharmacological therapies are effective and safe in managing PI, with CBT, acupuncture, and acupressure emerging as optimal choices for specific sleep parameters. These findings advocate non-pharmacological interventions into clinical practice and offer clinicians valuable insights for selecting appropriate treatment modalities for PI management. However, study limitations like heterogeneity and small sample sizes highlight the need for larger, well-designed RCTs. Future studies should use standardized measures for more specific insomnia assessment.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is marked by a measurable decline in cognitive function that exceeds typical age-related changes but does not yet qualify as dementia. The brain's Default Mode Network (DMN) remains active during rest and plays a crucial role in introspective processes, such as memory retrieval and self-referential thinking. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures spontaneous fluctuations in blood oxygenation, providing insights into functional connectivity within brain networks. Investigating the DMN using rs-fMRI in individuals with MCI allows researchers to identify early neural changes associated with cognitive decline, which may serve as biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. The rs-fMRI technique has been widely used in MCI research to explore the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of cognitive impairment. This study aims to synthesize findings from rs-fMRI studies focusing on alterations in DMN connectivity in MCI populations. This analysis deepens our understanding of the early-stage neural disruptions in MCI and holds significant implications for developing early diagnostic tools and interventions aimed at delaying the progression to dementia.

Introduction: This review evaluates the safety protocols for acupuncture, emphasizing the need for stringent measures due to the procedure's invasive nature.Discussion: It discusses the necessity of global safety standards, including mandatory accreditation and licensing for practitioners to mitigate risks such as needle contamination and improper technique. The study advocates for extensive training and continuous education programs to ensure practitioners master both theoretical and practical aspects of acupuncture. The review highlights the use of sterilized, single-use needles and regular equipment checks to maintain high safety standards. It also underscores the importance of pretreatment assessments, informed consent, and posttreatment monitoring to enhance patient safety. Furthermore, it suggests the implementation of robust surveillance systems and the use of case studies to learn from adverse events. Finally, the review identifies research gaps and recommends focusing on innovative techniques and fostering international cooperation to advance acupuncture's safety and efficacy.Conclusion: This approach aims to strengthen safety protocols, thereby improving patient outcomes and aiding acupuncture's integration into mainstream health care.

Background: Previous clinical trials have reported that acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) is a useful modality for weight loss. However, no study has specifically investigated the effectiveness and safety of comparing verum and sham ACE in adults with obesity. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of comparing verum and sham ACE in obese adults. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the electronic databases of PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and China Biomedical Literature Service System from inception to April 1, 2022. Randomized clinical trials that focused on evaluating the effectiveness of comparing verum and sham ACE in adults with obesity were included. The primary outcomes included reduction in body weight, body mass index, hip circumference, and waist circumference. The secondary outcomes consisted of a decrease in body fat percentage and the occurrence rate of adverse events. The methodological quality of the included randomized clinical trials was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk-of-bias tool. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results: Six trials involving 679 adults with obesity were included in this study and entered in the data analysis of systematic review and meta-analysis. Results of the meta-analysis revealed significant reduction in body weight (mean difference [MD] = −1.68, 95% confidence intervals (CI) [−2.34, −1.01], I 2 = 51%, P < .001), body mass index (MD = −0.51, 95% CI [−0.81, −0.21], I 2 = 74%, P < .001), hip circumference (MD = −1.11, 95% CI [−1.67, −0.55], I 2 = 0%, P < .001), waist circumference (MD = −2.42, 95% CI [−3.38, −1.45], I 2 = 68%, P < .001), and decrease in body fat percentage (MD = −0.83, 95% CI [−1.30, −0.36], I 2 = 16%, P < .001) in comparing verum and sham ACE. However, no significant difference was identified in AEs (odds ratio = 1.53, 95% CI [0.80, 2.95], I 2 = 0%, P = .20) between the 2 groups. Conclusion: ACE is effective in the treatment of obesity in adults with safety profile. Further studies with higher quality and larger sample size are warranted to confirm the current findings.

Cognitive impairment is a critical non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) that profoundly affects patients’ quality of life. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has emerged as a valuable tool for investigating the structural and functional brain changes associated with cognitive impairment in PD (PD-CI). MRI techniques enable the precise identification and monitoring of the onset and progression of cognitive deficits in PD. This review synthesizes recent literature on the use of MRI-based techniques, including voxel-based morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging, and functional MRI, in the study of PD-CI. By examining these imaging modalities, the article aims to elucidate the patterns of brain structural and functional alterations in PD-CI, offering critical insights that can inform clinical management and therapeutic strategies. In particular, this review provides a novel synthesis of recent advancements in understanding how specific MRI metrics, such as amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations, regional homogeneity, and functional connectivity, contribute to early detection and personalized treatment approaches for PD-CI. The integration of findings from these studies enhances our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in PD and highlights the potential of MRI as a supportive tool in the clinical assessment and treatment of PD-CI.

EDITORIAL article Front. Neurosci., 08 January 2024Sec. Translational Neuroscience Volume 17 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1337612

INTRODUCTION:This study analyzed the current status, hotspots, and development trends of tau protein research in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to provide a reference for future research in this field. CiteSpace software was used to scientifically measure and visualize the relevant articles in the field of tau protein in AD brain from the Web of Science Core Collection database from 1991 to 2022. METHODS:A total of 568 articles were included, with an exponential growth in the number of articles published from 1991 to 2022, with an average of 17.8 articles per year. The United States is the most productive country in this field, accounting for 46.83% of the total literature. The New York State Institute for Basic Research is the most productive organization, followed by MRC Laboratory Molecular Biology in the UK. The most influential are Kings College London, University of California, San Francisco, and others. Iqbal K is the most productive author. RESULTS:The most productive journal is the Journal of Biological Chemistry, and the journal with the highest impact factor is Acta Neuropathologica. The journal with the highest cumulative impact factor is Nature. The research hotspots mainly focus on the formation and degradation mechanisms of tau protein paired helical filaments and abnormal phosphorylation, AD neurofibrillary tangles and degenerative changes, and model research, mainly involving tau protein abnormal phosphorylation, phosphorylation sites, dephosphorylation, aggregate helical filaments, neurofibrillary tangles mouse models. CONCLUSION:The research frontier trends mainly focus on the study of pathological changes in tau protein, intervention mechanisms, and the development and practice of clinical therapeutic drugs.

针刺治疗偏头痛安全有效,已得到国内外学术界广泛认可,但其作用机理尚未完全明晰.该文基于功能磁共振成像技术,以"功能连接"为切入点,综述近年来在针刺治疗偏头痛研究中的相关应用进展,并从脑网络层面探寻针刺作用机制.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) loss is a potential factor for the degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Rab5a is a key regulatory molecule of NGF signaling transduction. However, the underlying mechanism of how Rab5a affects NGF and BFCNs in AD remains unclear. We found that Rab5a and Rin3, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor of Rab5 were hyperactivated, and rab5a-GTP increased significantly in the hippocampus of 5-month-old 5×FAD mice. Notably, electroacupuncture (EA) treatment reduced the levels of Rin3 and Rab5a in the hippocampus in the early stage of 5×FAD mice. Using CRE/LOXP gene editing to overexpress Rab5a and knockout NGF in the basal forebrain hippocampal circuit, we confirmed that EA improved learning memory by reducing Rab5a and increasing NGF. Moreover, EA suppress Rab5a-GTP to increase NGF transduction by promoting the phosphorylation of TrkA, AKT, and ERK, and increasing cholinergic-related proteins, ChAT, m1AchR, and m2AchR in the basal forebrain and hippocampus in the early stage of 5×FAD mice. These suggest that Rab5a hyperactivation is an early pathological manifestation, and EA could suppress Rab5a-GTP to promote the transduction of NGF signaling improving synaptic plasticity of the basal forebrain hippocampal circuit in the early stage of 5×FAD mice.Funding: This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (ref. 82104966) and the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (ref.2021J01131553).Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.Ethics Approval: The animal experimental study was carried out in compliance with the ethical regulations approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Fuzhou, Fujian province, China).

Vascular cognitive impairment not dementia (VCIND) is one of the three subtypes of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), with cognitive dysfunction and symptoms ranging between normal cognitive function and vascular dementia. The specific mechanisms underlying VCIND are still not fully understood, and there is a lack of specific diagnostic markers in clinical practice. With the rapid development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, structural MRI (sMRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) have become effective methods for exploring the neurobiological mechanisms of VCIND and have made continuous progress. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the research progress in VCIND using multimodal MRI, including sMRI, diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state fMRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. By integrating findings from these multiple modalities, this study presents a novel perspective on the neuropathological mechanisms underlying VCIND. It not only highlights the importance of multimodal MRI in unraveling the complex nature of VCIND but also lays the foundation for future research examining the relationship between brain structure, function, and cognitive impairment in VCIND. These new perspectives and strategies ultimately hold the potential to contribute to the development of more effective diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions for VCIND.

BackgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a common, progressive, irreversible, and fatal neurodegenerative disorder with rapidly increasing worldwide incidence. Although much research on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the white matter (WM) in AD has been published, no bibliometric analysis study has investigated this issue. Thus, this study aimed to provide an overview of the current status, hotspots, and trends in MRI of WM in AD. MethodsWe searched for records related to MRI studies of WM in AD from 1990 to 2022 in the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database. CiteSpace (version 5.1.R8) and VOSviewer (version 1.6.19) software were used for bibliometric analyses. ResultsA total of 2,199 articles were obtained from this study. From 1990 to 2022, the number of published articles showed exponential growth of y = 4.1374e(0.1294x), with an average of 17.9 articles per year. The top country and institutions were the United States and the University of California Davis, accounting for 44.52 and 5.32% of the total studies, respectively. The most productive journal was Neurology, and the most co-cited journal was Lancet Neurology. Decarli C was the most productive author. The current research frontier trend focuses on the association between small vessel disease and AD, the clinical application and exploration of diffusion MRI, and related markers. ConclusionThis study provides an in-depth overview of publications on MRI of WM in AD, identifying the current research status, hotspots, and frontier trends in the field.

With the significant increase in the global prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), the occurrence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) has become increasingly common complication associated with DM. It is particularly in the peripheral nerves of the hands, legs, and feet. DPN can lead to various adverse consequences that greatly affect the quality of life for individuals with DM. Despite the profound impact of DPN, the specific mechanisms underlying its development and progression are still not well understood. Advancements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology have provided valuable tools for investigating the central mechanisms involved in DPN. Structural and functional MRI techniques have emerged as important methods for studying the brain structures and functions associated with DPN. Voxel-based morphometry allows researchers to assess changes in the volume and density of different brain regions, providing insights into potential structural alterations related to DPN. Functional MRI investigates brain activity patterns, helping elucidate the neural networks engaged during sensory processing and pain perception in DPN patients. Lastly, magnetic resonance spectroscopy provides information about the neurochemical composition of specific brain regions, shedding light on potential metabolic changes associated with DPN. By synthesizing available literature employing these MRI techniques, this study aims to enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying DPN and contribute to the improvement of clinical diagnosis.

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is the initial stage of vascular dementia (VaD). Early diagnosis and treatment of VCI are crucial to prevent the progression of VaD. In order to gain a better understanding of VCI, this study aimed to investigate the use of advanced imaging techniques such as structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). These techniques allow researchers to observe the structural and functional changes in the brain that are associated with VCI. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and sMRI techniques have been widely used in studies focusing on gray matter, brain networks, and functional abnormalities during rest. By searching and summarizing recent literature, this study has provided valuable evidence on the use of advanced imaging techniques in understanding and treating VCI. The findings from this study can aid in the development of early intervention strategies for patients with VCI, potentially slowing down or even halting the progression of VCI to full-blown VaD.