Functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence for activated functional brain areas following acupoint needling in the extremities

Totally three articles focusing on functional magnetic resonance imaging features of brain function in the activated brain regions of stroke patients undergoing acupuncture on the healthy limbs and healthy controls undergoing acupuncture on the lower extremities are published in three issues. We hope that our readers find these papers useful to their research.

New Evidence of Late Quaternary Activity on the Xinyi-Wuhe Segment of the Tancheng-Lujiang Fault Zone

The Tancheng-Lujiang fault zone has great influence in eastern China. Studies have shown obvious signs of neotectonic activities on the Xinyi-Wuhe segment of the Tancheng-Lujiang fault zone. In this study,on the basis of the previous work,many seismological surveys are made along the Tancheng-Lujiang fault zone and trenches are excavated in key sites.Combined with the analysis of the seismic activities along the fault,the fault movement features and future seismic risk are discussed. Much first-hand information obtained in the paper can provide an important reference value for the study of large earthquake recurrence rules and the mid and long-term earthquake prediction on the Xinyi-Wuhe segment of the Tancheng-Lujiang fault zone.

Lack of evidence of active lytic replication of Epstein-Barr and cytomegaloviruses in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objectives Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial disease. Environmental factors such as viral infection(s) have been proposed as pathaetiological factors. There are particular interests in studying lymphotropic viruses such as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Although previous case reports and in vitro studies suggested that they may have a role, there is no direct evidence that onset of SLE or disease exacerbation is associated with active infection by these viruses. Using the very sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, we tried to find out evidence of active replication of these viruses in patients with SLE. Methods Thirty-four patients with SLE were compared with matched normal controls. Eleven patients were newly diagnosed to have SLE and 18 of the 34 patients had active disease as determined by a SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score of ≥10 at the time of study. Results Our results showed no evidence of active replication or reactivation of EBV in the leucocytes amongst the newly diagnosed SLE patients, established SLE patients, patients with SLEDAI ≥10, patients with SLEDAI <10, and control subjects. There was no evidence of CMV infection in any of the subjects studied. The IgG and IgA responses against EBV early antigen (EA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) were also studied. The IgG and IgA responses against VCA of EBV were increased in patients with SLE when compared with controls. However, there were no differences in these responses among different subgroups of patients. The mechanism of these responses was not apparent but may represent non-specific hyperimmune responses in these patients. There were no differences in the titre of IgG and IgA against EBV EA between the patient groups and controls.Conclusion There is no direct evidence that either EBV or CMV plays a direct role in the onset and/or exacerbation of SLE.