Acupuncture for ischemic stroke:where are we now?

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for ischemic stroke(IS)and plays a key role in neurological rehabilitation after IS.Acupuncture can improve the clinical symptoms of various complications after IS,including motor dysfunction,swallowing disorders,speech disorders,cognitive impairment,depression,insomnia,and fatigue.However,the mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture in IS remain unclear.Available evidence suggests that acupuncture may exert neuroprotective effects through neuroplasticity(neurogenesis and synaptogenesis),angiogenesis,cell proliferation and apoptosis,and regulation of oxidative stress,inflammation,and immunity.Further studies should be conducted to improve the high-quality evidence-based system of acupuncture intervention for IS,by focusing on the clinical and basic research design,increasing the sample size,standardizing and quantifying the standards of acupuncture operations,using multidisciplinary techniques and methods to systematically explore the key targets of acupuncture intervention for IS,and reveal the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of IS.

How to conduct an acupuncture dose–effect relationship study? A discussion based on study methodology

Acupuncture therapy is widely used in the clinic,and its therapeutic effects have been proven by numerous studies.The dose–effect relationship of acupuncture is a fundamental aspect of the acupuncture research system.Recent studies found that different acupuncture dosages altered study results directly,indicating the importance of screening the optimal stimulation dosage.However,the system for studying the acupuncture dose–effect relationship is still in its infancy,and the methodology of the system needs to be improved.This review aimed to define the factors impacting acupuncture“dosage”and“effect,”and to improve the methodological system for research on the dose–effect relationship of acupuncture.By summarizing the current findings of acupuncture dose–effect studies,we discussed the vital acupuncture parameters and methodological problems that influence the relationship between acupuncture dosage and its effects.These factors consist of specific influencing factors(acupoint selection,acupuncture manipulation parameters,de qi response)and nonspecific influencing factors(comparison selection,blinding procedure,patient expectancy).Our perspectives offer suggestions for the design of acupuncture dosage–effect trials.Further studies need to be conducted to establish the methodological system and provide systematic evidence of the acupuncture dose–effect relationship.

Dehydrogenation Induced Formation of Chiral Core-Shell Arrays of Melamine on Ag(111)

The structural evolution of supramolecular phases of melamine on Ag(111) surface as a function of annealing temperature is investigated by employing low-temper at ure scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy(LTSTM/STS).It is found that partial deprotonation of the melamine molecules leads to formation of distinct types of ordered supramolecular arrangements.Apart from two previously reported phases(α and β),a new phase comprising arrays of close-packed hexagonal core-shell-type clusters is identified for the first time.Based on high-resolution STM images as well as structural modeling,we show that the new phase presents a two-level hierarchical order and chirality is expressed at both levels.Using STS characterization,we further reveal that the chiral arrangement of the clusters confines surface electrons into a honeycomb pathway with handedness,which could give rise to novel interfacial electronic properties such as Dirac fermions as well as flat band.