Experiments were carried out on rats anaesthetized with uraethane. The sponta-neous discharges and nociceptive responses of convergent neurons in the right trigerninal nucleus cau-dalis(TNC) to noxious stimuli at rece...Experiments were carried out on rats anaesthetized with uraethane. The sponta-neous discharges and nociceptive responses of convergent neurons in the right trigerninal nucleus cau-dalis(TNC) to noxious stimuli at receptive field (cheek) were recorded extracellularly with glass mi-cro-electrode. Electroacupuncture (EA ) was applied at bilateral " Xiaguan" (ST 7 on face ) or "Zusanli" (ST 36 on shank) acupoint with Iow (2V) and high (18V) intensity. The noclceptive re-sponse of convergent neurons in TNC could be inhihited by low intensity EA applied at "Xiaguan" butnot "Zusanlil", showing the specificity of acupoints. High intensity EA at either "Xiaguan" or "Zusan-li" also reduced the nociceptive responses, showing the analgesic extensiveness of acupoints. We sug-gest that "the gate of control" mechanism plays a main role in low intensity EA and "diffuse noxiousinhibitory controls" (DNIC) rnechanism does so in high intensity EA.The results suggest that we should pay attention to the location of acupoints,展开更多
Automatically mapping a requirement specification to design model in Software Engineering is an open complex problem. Existing methods use a complex manual process that use the knowledge from the requirement specifica...Automatically mapping a requirement specification to design model in Software Engineering is an open complex problem. Existing methods use a complex manual process that use the knowledge from the requirement specification/modeling and the design, and try to find a good match between them. The key task done by designers is to convert a natural language based requirement specification (or corresponding UML based representation) into a predominantly computer language based design model—thus the process is very complex as there is a very large gap between our natural language and computer language. Moreover, this is not just a simple language conversion, but rather a complex knowledge conversion that can lead to meaningful design implementation. In this paper, we describe an automated method to map Requirement Model to Design Model and thus automate/partially automate the Structured Design (SD) process. We believe, this is the first logical step in mapping a more complex requirement specification to design model. We call it IRTDM (Intelligent Agent based requirement model to design model mapping). The main theme of IRTDM is to use some AI (Artificial Intelligence) based algorithms, semantic representation using Ontology or Predicate Logic, design structures using some well known design framework and Machine Learning algorithms for learning over time. Semantics help convert natural language based requirement specification (and associated UML representation) into high level design model followed by mapping to design structures. AI method can also be used to convert high level design structures into lower level design which then can be refined further by some manual and/or semi automated process. We emphasize that automation is one of the key ways to minimize the software cost, and is very important for all, especially, for the “Design for the Bottom 90% People” or BOP (Base of the Pyramid People).展开更多
Hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza viruses is a cylindrically shaped homotrimer, where each monomer comprises two disulfide-linked subdomains HA1 and HA2. Influenza infection is initiated by binding of HA1 to its host ce...Hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza viruses is a cylindrically shaped homotrimer, where each monomer comprises two disulfide-linked subdomains HA1 and HA2. Influenza infection is initiated by binding of HA1 to its host cell receptors and followed by the fusion between viral and host endosomal membranes mediated by HA2. Human influenza viruses preferentially bind to sialic acid that is linked to galactose by an α2,6-linkage (α2,6), whereas avian and swine influenza viruses preferentially recognize α2,3 or α 2,3/α2,6. For animal influenza viruses to cross host species barriers, their HA proteins must acquire mutations to gain the capacity to allow human-to-human transmission. In this study, the informational spectrum method (ISM), a bioinformatics approach, was applied to identify mutations and to elucidate the contribution to the receptor binding specificity from each mutation in HA1 in various subtypes within or between hosts, including 2009 human H1N1, avian H5N1, human H5N1, avian H1N1, and swine H1N2. Among others, our quantitative analysis indicated that the mutations in HA1 of 2009 human H1N1 collectively tended to reduce the swine binding affinity in the seasonal H1N1 strains and to increase that in the pandemic H1N1 strains. At the same time, they increased the human binding affinity in the pandemic H1N1 strains and had little impact on that in the seasonal H1N1 strains. The mutations between the consensus HA1 sequences of human H5N1 and avian H5N1 increased the avian binding affinity and decreased the human binding affinity in avian H5N1 while produced the opposite effects on those in human H5N1. Finally, the ISM was employed to analyze and verify several mutations in HA1 well known for their critical roles in binding specificity switch, including E190D/G225D in H1N1 and Q192R/ S223L/ Q226L/ G228S in H5N1.展开更多
The hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza viruses facilitates receptor binding and membrane fusion, which is the initial step of virus infection. Human influenza viruses preferentially bind to receptors with α2-6 lin- kage...The hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza viruses facilitates receptor binding and membrane fusion, which is the initial step of virus infection. Human influenza viruses preferentially bind to receptors with α2-6 lin- kages to galactose (SAα2,6Gal), whereas avian influenza viruses prefer receptors with α2-3 linkages to galactose (SAα2,3Gal). The current 2009 H1N1 pandemic is caused by a novel influenza A virus that has its genetic materials from birds, humans, and pigs. Its pandemic nature is characterized clearly by its dual binding to the α2-3 as well as α2-6 receptors, because the seasonal human H1N1 virus only binds to the α2-6 receptor. In a previous study, the informational spectrum method (ISM), a bioinformatics technique, was applied to uncover one highly conserved region in the HA protein associated with receptor binding preference in each of various influenza subtypes. In the present study, we extended the previous work by discovering multiple such domains in HA of 2009 H1N1 and avian H5N1 to expand our repertoire of known key regions in HA responsible for receptor binding affinity. Three such domains in HA of 2009 H1N1 were found at residue positions 106 to 130, 150 to 174, and 191 to 221, and another three domains in HA of avian H5N1 were located at residue positions 46 to 65, 136 to 153, and 269 to 286. These identified domains could be utilized as therapeutic and diagnostic targets for the prevention and treatment of influenza infection.展开更多
Glaucoma, the leading cause of visual impairment and irreversible blindness worldwide, is a multifactorial, progressive optic neuropathy characterized by loss of retinal ganglion cells, alterations of the optic nerve ...Glaucoma, the leading cause of visual impairment and irreversible blindness worldwide, is a multifactorial, progressive optic neuropathy characterized by loss of retinal ganglion cells, alterations of the optic nerve head, and specific visual field defects. Clinical evidence shows that intraocular pressure is the major risk factor of the treatable disease. However, in some patients, glaucoma develops and continues to progress despite normal intraocular pressure values, suggesting that other risk factors are involved in the disease. Consequently, neuroprotective treatments, focused on preventing retinal ganglion cells death by acting on different therapeutic strategies but not focused on intraocular pressure reduction, has therefore become of great interest. In this contest, coenzyme Q10, showing evidence in slowing or reversing pathological changes typical of the disease, has been proposed as a potential neuroprotective agent in glaucoma. In this review, we describe the possible mechanisms of action of coenzyme Q10 and the recent evidence in literature regarding the neuroprotective activity of the molecule.展开更多
AIM:To prospectively assess the sensitivity,specificity and time to positivity of theUltra-rapid urease test (URUT) for Helicobacter pylori(H pylori),and compare the results of one with those of two biopsies. METHODS:...AIM:To prospectively assess the sensitivity,specificity and time to positivity of theUltra-rapid urease test (URUT) for Helicobacter pylori(H pylori),and compare the results of one with those of two biopsies. METHODS:Five antral biopsies were taken in consecutive patients undergoing upper endoscopy:one and two biopsies for URUT,and one each for H pylori culture and histology. URUT was read at 1,5,10,20 and 30 min,1,2,3 and 24 h after biopsy insertion into the reagent.A positive histology and/or culture was used as positive reference“gold standards”. RESULTS:URUT was more sensitive for detecting Hpylori with two biopsies rather than one,at all time points up to 120 min.The sensitivity improved from 3.6% to 82.1% for one biopsy and 10.7% to 85.7% for two biopsies from 1 to 120 min.The sensitivity reached 96.4% at 24 h for both, but the specificity reduced from 100% to 96% and 92% for one and two biopsies,respectively. CONCLUSION:Development of a positive URUT result is hastened by doubling the number of gastric biopsies.We recommend taking two instead of one biopsy to achieve an earlier positive URUT result so that H pylori eradication therapy can be initiated before patient is discharged from the endoscopy suite.展开更多
A transformation of the electron states—say those enclosed in a potential box—into the de Broglie waves done in the paper, enabled us to calculate the energy change between two quantum levels as a function of the sp...A transformation of the electron states—say those enclosed in a potential box—into the de Broglie waves done in the paper, enabled us to calculate the energy change between two quantum levels as a function of the specific heat and difference of the temperature between the states. In consequence, the energy difference and that of entropy between the levels could be examined in terms of the appropriate classical parameters. In the next step, the time interval necessary for the electron transition between the levels could be associated with the classical electrodynamical parameters like the electric resistance and capacitance connected with the temporary formation of the electric cell in course of the transition. The parameters characterizing the mechanical inertia of the electron were next used as a check of the electrodynamical formulae referring to transition.展开更多
Coenzyme Q10(Co Q10) is an essential cofactor in the mitochondrial respiratory pathway and also functions as a lipid-soluble antioxidant. Co Q10 deficiency has been implicated in many clinical disorders and aging. Pri...Coenzyme Q10(Co Q10) is an essential cofactor in the mitochondrial respiratory pathway and also functions as a lipid-soluble antioxidant. Co Q10 deficiency has been implicated in many clinical disorders and aging. Primary Co Q10 deficiency is a group of recessively inherited diseases caused by mutations in any gene involved in the Co Q10 biosynthesis pathway. Although primary Co Q10 deficiency is rare, its diagnosis is important because it is potentially treatable with exogenous Co Q10. Multiple system atrophy(MSA) was recently shown to be linked to mutations in the COQ2 gene, one of the genes involved in the Co Q10 biosynthesis pathway. MSA is relatively common in adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases characterized by Parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia and autonomic failures. Because COQ2 mutations are associated with an increased risk of MSA, oral Co Q10 supplementation may be beneficial for MSA, as for other primary Co Q10 deficiencies. Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitors that inhibit the biosynthesis of cholesterol, as well as the synthesis of mevalonate, a critical intermediate in cholesterol synthesis. Statin therapy has been associ-ated with a variety of muscle complaints from myalgia to rhabdomyolysis. Statin treatment carries a potential risk of Co Q10 deficiency, although no definite evidence has implicated CQ10 deficiency as the cause of statinrelated myopathy.展开更多
Introduction: Reports indicate that fluorescent staining of smears increases sensitivity of direct microscopy;so ZN staining is being replaced with fluorescent microscopy in RNTCP in India. Chemical processing and spu...Introduction: Reports indicate that fluorescent staining of smears increases sensitivity of direct microscopy;so ZN staining is being replaced with fluorescent microscopy in RNTCP in India. Chemical processing and sputum concentration may also improve sensitivity of microscopy. Objective: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of microscopy for AFB using ZN and fluorescent stains in direct and concentrated specimen with culture as gold standard. Methods: Morning sputum specimen of patients, suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis, over a period of 6 months was subjected to direct microscopy using fluorescent stain;the same slide was over-stained with ZN stain. Same sputum sample was concentrated by Petroff’s method and subjected to fluorescent microscopy followed by ZN microscopy and finally to culture for AFB. Results: Sensitivity of fluorescent stained concentrated sputum samples was maximum and of ZN stained unprocessed sputum samples was minimum. Specificity of three of the methods was equal at 0.96 but of ZN stained concentrated sputum smears was 0.97. Sensitivity of total fluorescent stains was 0.85 (Specificity 0.96) and sensitivity of total ZN stained smears was 0.80 (Specificity 0.96). Discussion: We used same smear for fluorescent and ZN stains, so smear related variability is decreased. Blinding for microscopy was practically complete. Conclusion: The sensitivity of sputum microscopy for AFB can be increased by concentrating the sputum and using fluorescent microscopy. The specificity remains high in all the methods.展开更多
The specific mechanisms by which acupuncture affects the central nervous system are unclear. In the International Standard Scalp Acupuncture system, acupuncture needles are applied at the middle line of the vertex, an...The specific mechanisms by which acupuncture affects the central nervous system are unclear. In the International Standard Scalp Acupuncture system, acupuncture needles are applied at the middle line of the vertex, anterior parietal-temporal oblique line, and the posterior parietal-temporal oblique line. We conducted a single-arm prospective clinical trial in which seven healthy elderly volunteers (three men and four women;50–70 years old) received International Standard Scalp Acupuncture at MS5 (the mid-sagittal line between Baihui (DU20) and Qianding (DU21)), the left MS6 (line joining Sishencong (EX-HN1) and Xuanli (GB6)), and the left MS7 (line joining DU20 and Qubin (GB7)). After acupuncture, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated changes in the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity in various areas, showing remarkable enhancement of regional homogeneity in the bilateral anterior cingulate, left medial frontal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus. Functional connectivity based on a seed region at the right middle frontal gyrus (42, 51, 9) decreased at the bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus. Our data preliminarily indicates that the international standard scalp acupuncture in healthy elderly participants specifcally enhances the correlation between the brain regions involved in cognition and implementation of the brain network regulation system and the surrounding adjacent brain regions. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the China-Japan Union Hospital at Jilin University, China, on July 18, 2016 (approval No. 2016ks043).展开更多
文摘Experiments were carried out on rats anaesthetized with uraethane. The sponta-neous discharges and nociceptive responses of convergent neurons in the right trigerninal nucleus cau-dalis(TNC) to noxious stimuli at receptive field (cheek) were recorded extracellularly with glass mi-cro-electrode. Electroacupuncture (EA ) was applied at bilateral " Xiaguan" (ST 7 on face ) or "Zusanli" (ST 36 on shank) acupoint with Iow (2V) and high (18V) intensity. The noclceptive re-sponse of convergent neurons in TNC could be inhihited by low intensity EA applied at "Xiaguan" butnot "Zusanlil", showing the specificity of acupoints. High intensity EA at either "Xiaguan" or "Zusan-li" also reduced the nociceptive responses, showing the analgesic extensiveness of acupoints. We sug-gest that "the gate of control" mechanism plays a main role in low intensity EA and "diffuse noxiousinhibitory controls" (DNIC) rnechanism does so in high intensity EA.The results suggest that we should pay attention to the location of acupoints,
文摘Automatically mapping a requirement specification to design model in Software Engineering is an open complex problem. Existing methods use a complex manual process that use the knowledge from the requirement specification/modeling and the design, and try to find a good match between them. The key task done by designers is to convert a natural language based requirement specification (or corresponding UML based representation) into a predominantly computer language based design model—thus the process is very complex as there is a very large gap between our natural language and computer language. Moreover, this is not just a simple language conversion, but rather a complex knowledge conversion that can lead to meaningful design implementation. In this paper, we describe an automated method to map Requirement Model to Design Model and thus automate/partially automate the Structured Design (SD) process. We believe, this is the first logical step in mapping a more complex requirement specification to design model. We call it IRTDM (Intelligent Agent based requirement model to design model mapping). The main theme of IRTDM is to use some AI (Artificial Intelligence) based algorithms, semantic representation using Ontology or Predicate Logic, design structures using some well known design framework and Machine Learning algorithms for learning over time. Semantics help convert natural language based requirement specification (and associated UML representation) into high level design model followed by mapping to design structures. AI method can also be used to convert high level design structures into lower level design which then can be refined further by some manual and/or semi automated process. We emphasize that automation is one of the key ways to minimize the software cost, and is very important for all, especially, for the “Design for the Bottom 90% People” or BOP (Base of the Pyramid People).
文摘Hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza viruses is a cylindrically shaped homotrimer, where each monomer comprises two disulfide-linked subdomains HA1 and HA2. Influenza infection is initiated by binding of HA1 to its host cell receptors and followed by the fusion between viral and host endosomal membranes mediated by HA2. Human influenza viruses preferentially bind to sialic acid that is linked to galactose by an α2,6-linkage (α2,6), whereas avian and swine influenza viruses preferentially recognize α2,3 or α 2,3/α2,6. For animal influenza viruses to cross host species barriers, their HA proteins must acquire mutations to gain the capacity to allow human-to-human transmission. In this study, the informational spectrum method (ISM), a bioinformatics approach, was applied to identify mutations and to elucidate the contribution to the receptor binding specificity from each mutation in HA1 in various subtypes within or between hosts, including 2009 human H1N1, avian H5N1, human H5N1, avian H1N1, and swine H1N2. Among others, our quantitative analysis indicated that the mutations in HA1 of 2009 human H1N1 collectively tended to reduce the swine binding affinity in the seasonal H1N1 strains and to increase that in the pandemic H1N1 strains. At the same time, they increased the human binding affinity in the pandemic H1N1 strains and had little impact on that in the seasonal H1N1 strains. The mutations between the consensus HA1 sequences of human H5N1 and avian H5N1 increased the avian binding affinity and decreased the human binding affinity in avian H5N1 while produced the opposite effects on those in human H5N1. Finally, the ISM was employed to analyze and verify several mutations in HA1 well known for their critical roles in binding specificity switch, including E190D/G225D in H1N1 and Q192R/ S223L/ Q226L/ G228S in H5N1.
文摘The hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza viruses facilitates receptor binding and membrane fusion, which is the initial step of virus infection. Human influenza viruses preferentially bind to receptors with α2-6 lin- kages to galactose (SAα2,6Gal), whereas avian influenza viruses prefer receptors with α2-3 linkages to galactose (SAα2,3Gal). The current 2009 H1N1 pandemic is caused by a novel influenza A virus that has its genetic materials from birds, humans, and pigs. Its pandemic nature is characterized clearly by its dual binding to the α2-3 as well as α2-6 receptors, because the seasonal human H1N1 virus only binds to the α2-6 receptor. In a previous study, the informational spectrum method (ISM), a bioinformatics technique, was applied to uncover one highly conserved region in the HA protein associated with receptor binding preference in each of various influenza subtypes. In the present study, we extended the previous work by discovering multiple such domains in HA of 2009 H1N1 and avian H5N1 to expand our repertoire of known key regions in HA responsible for receptor binding affinity. Three such domains in HA of 2009 H1N1 were found at residue positions 106 to 130, 150 to 174, and 191 to 221, and another three domains in HA of avian H5N1 were located at residue positions 46 to 65, 136 to 153, and 269 to 286. These identified domains could be utilized as therapeutic and diagnostic targets for the prevention and treatment of influenza infection.
文摘Glaucoma, the leading cause of visual impairment and irreversible blindness worldwide, is a multifactorial, progressive optic neuropathy characterized by loss of retinal ganglion cells, alterations of the optic nerve head, and specific visual field defects. Clinical evidence shows that intraocular pressure is the major risk factor of the treatable disease. However, in some patients, glaucoma develops and continues to progress despite normal intraocular pressure values, suggesting that other risk factors are involved in the disease. Consequently, neuroprotective treatments, focused on preventing retinal ganglion cells death by acting on different therapeutic strategies but not focused on intraocular pressure reduction, has therefore become of great interest. In this contest, coenzyme Q10, showing evidence in slowing or reversing pathological changes typical of the disease, has been proposed as a potential neuroprotective agent in glaucoma. In this review, we describe the possible mechanisms of action of coenzyme Q10 and the recent evidence in literature regarding the neuroprotective activity of the molecule.
文摘AIM:To prospectively assess the sensitivity,specificity and time to positivity of theUltra-rapid urease test (URUT) for Helicobacter pylori(H pylori),and compare the results of one with those of two biopsies. METHODS:Five antral biopsies were taken in consecutive patients undergoing upper endoscopy:one and two biopsies for URUT,and one each for H pylori culture and histology. URUT was read at 1,5,10,20 and 30 min,1,2,3 and 24 h after biopsy insertion into the reagent.A positive histology and/or culture was used as positive reference“gold standards”. RESULTS:URUT was more sensitive for detecting Hpylori with two biopsies rather than one,at all time points up to 120 min.The sensitivity improved from 3.6% to 82.1% for one biopsy and 10.7% to 85.7% for two biopsies from 1 to 120 min.The sensitivity reached 96.4% at 24 h for both, but the specificity reduced from 100% to 96% and 92% for one and two biopsies,respectively. CONCLUSION:Development of a positive URUT result is hastened by doubling the number of gastric biopsies.We recommend taking two instead of one biopsy to achieve an earlier positive URUT result so that H pylori eradication therapy can be initiated before patient is discharged from the endoscopy suite.
文摘A transformation of the electron states—say those enclosed in a potential box—into the de Broglie waves done in the paper, enabled us to calculate the energy change between two quantum levels as a function of the specific heat and difference of the temperature between the states. In consequence, the energy difference and that of entropy between the levels could be examined in terms of the appropriate classical parameters. In the next step, the time interval necessary for the electron transition between the levels could be associated with the classical electrodynamical parameters like the electric resistance and capacitance connected with the temporary formation of the electric cell in course of the transition. The parameters characterizing the mechanical inertia of the electron were next used as a check of the electrodynamical formulae referring to transition.
文摘Coenzyme Q10(Co Q10) is an essential cofactor in the mitochondrial respiratory pathway and also functions as a lipid-soluble antioxidant. Co Q10 deficiency has been implicated in many clinical disorders and aging. Primary Co Q10 deficiency is a group of recessively inherited diseases caused by mutations in any gene involved in the Co Q10 biosynthesis pathway. Although primary Co Q10 deficiency is rare, its diagnosis is important because it is potentially treatable with exogenous Co Q10. Multiple system atrophy(MSA) was recently shown to be linked to mutations in the COQ2 gene, one of the genes involved in the Co Q10 biosynthesis pathway. MSA is relatively common in adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases characterized by Parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia and autonomic failures. Because COQ2 mutations are associated with an increased risk of MSA, oral Co Q10 supplementation may be beneficial for MSA, as for other primary Co Q10 deficiencies. Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitors that inhibit the biosynthesis of cholesterol, as well as the synthesis of mevalonate, a critical intermediate in cholesterol synthesis. Statin therapy has been associ-ated with a variety of muscle complaints from myalgia to rhabdomyolysis. Statin treatment carries a potential risk of Co Q10 deficiency, although no definite evidence has implicated CQ10 deficiency as the cause of statinrelated myopathy.
文摘Introduction: Reports indicate that fluorescent staining of smears increases sensitivity of direct microscopy;so ZN staining is being replaced with fluorescent microscopy in RNTCP in India. Chemical processing and sputum concentration may also improve sensitivity of microscopy. Objective: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of microscopy for AFB using ZN and fluorescent stains in direct and concentrated specimen with culture as gold standard. Methods: Morning sputum specimen of patients, suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis, over a period of 6 months was subjected to direct microscopy using fluorescent stain;the same slide was over-stained with ZN stain. Same sputum sample was concentrated by Petroff’s method and subjected to fluorescent microscopy followed by ZN microscopy and finally to culture for AFB. Results: Sensitivity of fluorescent stained concentrated sputum samples was maximum and of ZN stained unprocessed sputum samples was minimum. Specificity of three of the methods was equal at 0.96 but of ZN stained concentrated sputum smears was 0.97. Sensitivity of total fluorescent stains was 0.85 (Specificity 0.96) and sensitivity of total ZN stained smears was 0.80 (Specificity 0.96). Discussion: We used same smear for fluorescent and ZN stains, so smear related variability is decreased. Blinding for microscopy was practically complete. Conclusion: The sensitivity of sputum microscopy for AFB can be increased by concentrating the sputum and using fluorescent microscopy. The specificity remains high in all the methods.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81403455(to JQC)
文摘The specific mechanisms by which acupuncture affects the central nervous system are unclear. In the International Standard Scalp Acupuncture system, acupuncture needles are applied at the middle line of the vertex, anterior parietal-temporal oblique line, and the posterior parietal-temporal oblique line. We conducted a single-arm prospective clinical trial in which seven healthy elderly volunteers (three men and four women;50–70 years old) received International Standard Scalp Acupuncture at MS5 (the mid-sagittal line between Baihui (DU20) and Qianding (DU21)), the left MS6 (line joining Sishencong (EX-HN1) and Xuanli (GB6)), and the left MS7 (line joining DU20 and Qubin (GB7)). After acupuncture, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated changes in the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity in various areas, showing remarkable enhancement of regional homogeneity in the bilateral anterior cingulate, left medial frontal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus. Functional connectivity based on a seed region at the right middle frontal gyrus (42, 51, 9) decreased at the bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus. Our data preliminarily indicates that the international standard scalp acupuncture in healthy elderly participants specifcally enhances the correlation between the brain regions involved in cognition and implementation of the brain network regulation system and the surrounding adjacent brain regions. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the China-Japan Union Hospital at Jilin University, China, on July 18, 2016 (approval No. 2016ks043).
