Effect of Chinese tuina massage therapy on resting state brain functional network of patients with chronic neck pain

Objective:Cervical disease,a type of chronic pain,can greatly impact quality of life.Traditional Chinese tuina,a form of therapeutic massage and manipulation,has been shown to be effective in relieving pain and other symptoms in patients with chronic neck pain.This study applied functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the features of the resting state network of patients with chronic neck pain caused by cervical radiculopathy,and how tuina affects the causality between intrinsic brain networks.Methods:Using Granger causality analysis,effective connectivity of brain networks of 10 patients with chronic neck pain was compared with 10 healthy control subjects.Resting state fMRI data were using magnetic resonance scanning.Cervical spondylosis symptom scores were evaluated before and after 4 weeks of tuina therapy.Independent component analysis was applied to extract the specific networks related to sensation,execution,and cognition,including sensorimotor network (SMN),visual network (VN),auditory network (AN),anterior and posterior default mode network (aDMN,pDMN),left frontoparietal network and right frontoparietal network.Results:Compared with the control group,data from the treatment group revealed two major findings:before tuina therapy,SMN had a profound influence on aDMN and AN greatly affected pDMN;however,after 4 weeks of tuina therapy,aDMN and SMN showed reversed causality.Conclusion:Chronic neck pain caused by cervical radiculopathy may influence the DMN,which plays an important role in emotion,cognition,and memory,by stimulating the sensory afferent network.Tuina not only significantly relieves pain and discomfort,but also reverses the causality between aDMN and SMN.

Functional role of frontal electroencephalogram alpha asymmetry in the resting state in patients with depression:A review

Depression is a psychological disorder that affects the general public worldwide.It is particularly important to make an objective and accurate diagnosis of depression,and the measurement methods of brain activity have gradually received increasing attention.Resting electroencephalogram(EEG)alpha asymmetry in patients with depression shows changes in activation of the alpha frequency band of the left and right frontal cortices.In this paper,we review the findings of the relationship between frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in the resting state and depression.Based on worldwide studies,we found the following:(1)Compared with individuals without depression,those with depression showed greater right frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in the resting state.However,the pattern of frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in the resting state in depressive individuals seemed to disappear with age;(2)Compared with individuals without maternal depression,those with maternal depression showed greater right frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in the resting state,which indicated that genetic or experience-based influences have an impact on frontal EEG alpha asymmetry at rest;and(3)Frontal EEG alpha asymmetry in the resting state was stable,and little or no change occurred after antidepressant treatment.Finally,we concluded that the contrasting results may be due to differences in methodology,clinical characteristics,and participant characteristics.

Stimulating brain tissue with bright light alters functional connectivity in brain at the resting state

Light is considered to modulate human brain function only via the retinal pathway, a way of thinking that we aimed to challenge in the present study. Literature provides evidence of inherent phototransduction for instance in the rat brain and there are potentially photosensitive opsin proteins like melanopsin and panopsin in the human brain too. In order to investigate a short term response, functional connectivity changes of the brain were studied in the resting state with functional magnetic resonance imaging during bright light stimulus via the ear canal. Lateral visual and sensorimotor networks showed increased functional connectivity in the light stimulus group compared to sham controls. The lateral visual network demonstrated slowly increasing functional connectivity on average and the same temporal characteristic was shared by diverse cerebellar brain regions. Hypothetical phototransduction signal pathways leading to responses in brain function are discussed as well as some observed effects and their possible link to the findings. Findings from this study together with the plausible photoreceptor candidates suggest that the brain possesses photosensitive properties, which will have interesting implications for the modulation of brain function and understanding the basic physiology of the brain.

Age-related changes in resting-state functional connectivity in older adults

Age-related changes in the brain connectivity of healthy older adults have been widely studied in recent years,with some differences in the obtained results.Most of these studies showed decreases in general functional connectivity,but they also found increases in some particular regions and areas.Frequently,these studies compared young individuals with older subjects,but few studies compared different age groups only in older populations.The purpose of this study is to analyze whole-brain functional connectivity in healthy older adult groups and its network characteristics through functional segregation.A total of 114 individuals,48 to 89 years old,were scanned using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in a resting state paradigm and were divided into six different age groups(<60,60–64,65–69,70–74,75–79,≥80 years old).A partial correlation analysis,a pooled correlation analysis and a study of 3-cycle regions with prominent connectivity were conducted.Our results showed progressive diminution in the functional connectivity among different age groups and this was particularly pronounced between 75 and 79 years old.The oldest group(≥80 years old)showed a slight increase in functional connectivity compared to the other groups.This occurred possibly because of compensatory mechanism in brain functioning.This study provides information on the brain functional characteristics of every age group,with more specific information on the functional progressive decline,and supplies methodological tools to study functional connectivity characteristics.Approval for the study was obtained from the ethics committee of the Comision de Bioetica de la Universidad de Barcelona(approval No.PSI2012-38257)on June 5,2012,and from the ethics committee of the Barcelona’s Hospital Clinic(approval No.2009-5306 and 2011-6604)on October 22,2009 and April 7,2011 respectively.

Application of resting state fMRI in acupuncture and moxibustion studies

Functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） technique has been more widely applied to related studies of acupuncture central integration mechanisms with the advantages of non-invasion and real-time monitor, etc. Discovery of resting state brain activities and the default brain network challenges to the acupuncture-related studies based on traditional block design. The paper reviews some obvious advances of fMRI in studies of acupoint specificity, and research methods and progresses of the resting state brain functional network in recent years, and raises the thinking about leading the resting state fMRI and the brain functional network into acupuncture-related studies, in the hope of probing into the effect and modulation of acupuncture on the default network, promoting development of acupuncture mechanism studies and strengthening scientific basis of acupuncture and moxibustion theories.

观察电针健康受试者不同经穴对Resting-state fMRI脑功能连接的影响

目的:观察比较电针心经穴与心包经穴时激活脑区的功能连接变化差异,为临床运用针刺心经、心包经穴治疗相关疾病提供实验依据。方法:将符合纳入标准的29例健康受试者随机分为电针心经穴组14例和电针心包经穴组15例,以双侧后扣带回为种子点,采用功能连接作为观察指标,分析两组电针刺激状态下脑功能连接的差异。结果:两组电针前静息状态下的脑功能连接比较未发现存在明显差异的脑区。电针心经穴与心包经穴时脑内功能网络均发生改变,前者出现功能连接增强的区域为右侧额下回、左侧颞下回、右侧顶下小叶、右侧海马旁回,新激活脑区为双侧中央后回、左侧中央前回、右侧楔前叶、左侧角回、左侧枕下回、左侧脑岛(P<0.05);后者出现功能连接增强的区域为右侧顶上小叶,新激活脑区为左侧小脑舌、左侧顶叶楔前叶、右侧枕下回、左侧豆状核、右侧脑岛(P<0.05)。结论:(1)大脑在无任务的安静、清醒状态下存在一定的功能活动。(2)电针心经、心包经穴广泛激活的脑区主要与精神、神志、智力等密切相关,为临床上选用二者治疗与上述脑区相关的精神、神志类疾病提供了重要的客观依据。电针心经激活的中央前回为皮质运动前区,与对侧肢体运动功能密切相关,它的激活为临床上治疗中风肢体功能障碍选用手少阴心经穴提供了佐证。两组均激活的脑岛与心血管的功能关系密切,为临床上选用心经、心包经穴治疗心血管病提供了部分影像学依据。两条经脉的主治有交叉性,均可用于治疗心脑相关疾病,同时又各有偏颇,心包经多用于治疗与心相关疾病,而心经更多用于治疗精神神志类疾病。

Increased regional homogeneity in internet addiction disorder： a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Background Internet addition disorder （lAD） is currently becoming a serious mental health problem among Chinese adolescents. The pathogenesis of lAD, however, remains unclear. The purpose of this study applied regional homogeneity （ReHo） method to analyze encephalic functional characteristic of lAD college students under resting state. Methods Functional magnetic resonanc image （fMRI） was performed in 19 lAD college students and 19 controls under resting state. ReHo method was used to analyze the differences between the average ReHo in two groups. Results The following increased ReHo brain regions were found in lAD group compared with control group： cerebellum, brainstem, right cingulate gyrus, bilateral parahippocampus, right frontal lobe （rectal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus）, left superior frontal gyrus, left precuneus, right postcentral gyrus, right middle occipital gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus. The decreased ReHo brain regions were not found in the lAD group compared with the control group. Conclusions There are abnormalities in regional homogeneity in lAD college students compared with the controls and enhancement of synchronization in most encephalic regions can be found. The results reflect the functional change of brain in lAD college students. The connections between the enhancement of synchronization among cerebellum, brainstem, limbic lobe, frontal lobe and apical lobe may be relative to reward pathways.

Abnormal intra-network architecture in extra-striate cortices in amblyopia: a resting state fMRI study

Background:Amblyopia(lazy eye)is one of the most common causes of monocular visual impairment.Intensive investigation has shown that amblyopes suffer from a range of deficits not only in the primary visual cortex but also the extra-striate visual cortex.However,amblyopic brain processing deficits in large-scale information networks especially in the visual network remain unclear.Methods:Through resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI),we studied the functional connectivity and efficiency of the brain visual processing networks in 18 anisometropic amblyopic patients and 18 healthy controls(HCs).Results:We found a loss of functional correlation within the higher visual network(HVN)and the visuospatial network(VSN)in amblyopes.Additionally,compared with HCs,amblyopic patients exhibited disruptions in local efficiency in the V3v(third visual cortex,ventral part)and V4(fourth visual cortex)of the HVN,as well as in the PFt,hIP3(human intraparietal area 3),and BA7p(Brodmann area 7 posterior)of the VSN.No significant alterations were found in the primary visual network(PVN).Conclusion:Our results indicate that amblyopia results in an intrinsic decrease of both network functional correlations and local efficiencies in the extra-striate visual networks.

Abnormal resting-state functional network centrality in patients with high myopia： evidence from a voxel-wise degree centrality analysis

AIM： To investigate the functional networks underlying the brain-activity changes of patients with high myopia using the voxel-wise degree centrality（DC） method.METHODS： In total, 38 patients with high myopia（HM）（17 males and 21 females）, whose binocular refractive diopter were-6.00 to-7.00 D, and 38 healthy controls（17 males and 21 females）, closely matched in age, sex, and education levels, participated in the study. Spontaneous brain activities were evaluated using the voxel-wise DC method. The receiver operating characteristic curve was measured to distinguish patients with HM from healthy controls. Correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between the observed mean DC values of the different brain areas and the behavioral performance.RESULTS： Compared with healthy controls, HM patients had significantly decreased DC values in the right inferior frontal gyrus/insula, right middle frontal gyrus, and right supramarginal/inferior parietal lobule（P〈0.05）. In contrast, HM patients had significantly increased DC values in the right cerebellum posterior lobe, left precentral gyrus/postcentral gyrus, and right middle cingulate gyrus（P〈0.05）. However, no relationship was found between the observed mean DC values of the different brain areas and the behavioral performance（P〉0.05）.CONCLUSION： HM is associated with abnormalities in many brain regions, which may indicate the neural mechanisms of HM. The altered DC values may be used as a useful biomarker for the brain activity changes in HM patients.

Reduction in interhemispheric functional connectivity in the dorsal visual pathway in unilateral acute open globe injury patients: a resting-state fMRI study

This study investigated the changes in interhemispheric functional connectivity （FC） of the whole brain in open globe injury （OGI） patients, using voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity （VMHC）, and their relationships with clinical features. Totally, 16 male and 2 female acute OGI patients and 18 sex, age, and education-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. All subjects were scanned through functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI）. Receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves analyses had been used to identify the VMHC in these brain areas could be used as biomarkers to distinguish OGI and from healthy control （HC）. The mean VMHC values in multiple brain areas and clinical OGI manifestations were evaluated with a Pearson correlation analysis. OGI patients had significantly decreased VMHC in the bilateral calcarine/lingual/cuneus （BA18, 19, 30） and middle occipital gyrus （BA18, 19）. The OGI patients had abnormal interhemispheric FC in the dorsal visual pathway, which may represent the pathophysiological mechanism that underlies acute vision loss after OGI.

Altered spontaneous brain activity in patients with diabetic optic neuropathy:A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study using regional homogeneity

BACKGROUND Diabetes is a common chronic disease.Given the increasing incidence of diabetes,more individuals are affected by diabetic optic neuropathy(DON),which results in decreased vision.Whether DON leads to abnormalities of other visual systems,including the eye,the visual cortex,and other brain regions,remains unknown.AIM To investigate the local characteristics of spontaneous brain activity using regional homogeneity(ReHo)in patients with DON.METHODS We matched 22 patients with DON with 22 healthy controls(HCs).All subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.The ReHo technique was used to record spontaneous changes in brain activity.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were applied to differentiate between ReHo values for patients with DON and HCs.We also assessed the correlation between Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores and ReHo values in DON patients using Pearson correlation analysis.RESULTS ReHo values of the right middle frontal gyrus(RMFG),left anterior cingulate(LAC),and superior frontal gyrus(SFG)/left frontal superior orbital gyrus(LFSO)were significantly lower in DON patients compared to HCs.Among these,the greatest difference was observed in the RMFG.The result of the ROC curves suggest that ReHo values in altered brain regions may help diagnose DON,and the RMFG and LAC ReHo values are more clinically relevant than SFG/LFSO.We also found that anxiety and depression scores of the DON group were extremely negatively correlated with the LAC ReHo values(r=-0.9336,P<0.0001 and r=-0.8453,P<0.0001,respectively).CONCLUSION Three different brain regions show ReHo changes in DON patients,and these changes could serve as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers to further guide the prevention and treatment of DON patients.

The behavioral significance of resting state network after stroke:A study via graph theory analysis with near-infrared spectroscopy

Accurate assessment of motor abilties for stroke patients is the basis for optimizing rehabilitation strategy.Previous studies have shown that functional connectivity under resting state(RS)is associated with motor dysfunction after stroke,However,the utlity of topological properties of RS as a potential indicator for motordeficits after stroke has been litle explored and needs more validation.in this study,near-i frared spectroscopywas used to measure the hemodynamic signals at the frontal cortex under RS and investigate the associationbetween the network topological characteristics via graph theory analysis and the motor finction for strokepatients.Seventen patients participated in this study.Our results showed that the frontal network pres ented thesmallworld properties under Rs,The global eficiency of the network was positively correlated with the Fugl.Meyer asssment(FMA)for patients.Meanwhile,there was a trend that the characteristic path length of thenetwork positively corelated with patients'FMA.Our findings suggest that,for patients with mild motordysfunction,the enhanced connection between distant fran tal areas may serve as a compensate mechanism toensure the global eficiency across the network This study demonstrates that topological properties of the frontalnetwork under RS can predict the motar functin of stroke patients to some extent,and highlightsthe clinicalpracticability of RS in stroke.The clinical trial registration number is ChicTR200040137.

Survivors of COVID-19 exhibit altered amplitudes of low frequency fluctuation in the brain: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study at 1-year follow-up

Although some short-term follow-up studies have found that individuals recovering from coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)exhibit anxiety,depression,and altered brain microstructure,their long-term physical problems,neuropsychiatric sequelae,and changes in brain function remain unknown.This observational cohort study collected 1-year follow-up data from 22 patients who had been hospitalized with COVID-19(8 males and 11 females,aged 54.2±8.7 years).Fatigue and myalgia were persistent symptoms at the 1-year follow-up.The resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed that compared with 29 healthy controls(7 males and 18 females,aged 50.5±11.6 years),COVID-19 survivors had greatly increased amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation(ALFF)values in the left precentral gyrus,middle frontal gyrus,inferior frontal gyrus of operculum,inferior frontal gyrus of triangle,insula,hippocampus,parahippocampal gyrus,fusiform gyrus,postcentral gyrus,inferior parietal angular gyrus,supramarginal gyrus,angular gyrus,thalamus,middle temporal gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus,caudate,and putamen.ALFF values in the left caudate of the COVID-19 survivors were positively correlated with their Athens Insomnia Scale scores,and those in the left precentral gyrus were positively correlated with neutrophil count during hospitalization.The long-term follow-up results suggest that the ALFF in brain regions related to mood and sleep regulation were altered in COVID-19 survivors.This can help us understand the neurobiological mechanisms of COVID-19-related neuropsychiatric sequelae.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University(approval No.2020 S004)on March 19,2020.

Brain functional network connectivity based on a visual task: visual information processing-related brain regions are significantly activated in the task state

It is not clear whether the method used in functional brain-network related research can be applied to explore the feature binding mechanism of visual perception. In this study, we inves-tigated feature binding of color and shape in visual perception. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 38 healthy volunteers at rest and while performing a visual perception task to construct brain networks active during resting and task states. Results showed that brain regions involved in visual information processing were obviously activated during the task. The components were partitioned using a greedy algorithm, indicating the visual network existed during the resting state.Z-values in the vision-related brain regions were calculated, conifrming the dynamic balance of the brain network. Connectivity between brain regions was determined, and the result showed that occipital and lingual gyri were stable brain regions in the visual system network, the parietal lobe played a very important role in the binding process of color features and shape features, and the fusiform and inferior temporal gyri were crucial for processing color and shape information. Experimental ifndings indicate that understanding visual feature binding and cognitive processes will help establish computational models of vision, improve image recognition technology, and provide a new theoretical mechanism for feature binding in visual perception.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging of regional homogeneity changes in parkinsonian resting tremor

Regional homogeneity analysis of low-frequency blood oxygenation level-dependent signals from neighboring voxels enables the analysis of local neuronal synchrony. Both structural magnetic resonance imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were collected from nine Parkinson＇s disease patients with right resting tremor, and from eight age-matched normal controls. Regional homogeneity was compared between Parkinson＇s disease patients and controls. The results revealed that regional homogeneity was increased in several brain regions, including the right precuneus, right superior parietal gyrus, left anterior cingulate cortex, right middle frontal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus. Conversely, regional homogeneity was decreased in the cerebellar vermis in Parkinson＇s disease patients compared with healthy controls.

Research on resting spontaneous brain activity and functional connectivity of acupuncture at uterine acupoints

Objective The resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-f MRI)method was used to observe brain activity and its functional connection upon electroacupuncture stimulation at bilateral uterine acupoints(EX-CA1),as well as to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of gynecological diseases.Methods Twenty-two healthy female subjects were stimulated by electroacupuncture at bilateral uterine acupoints;rs-f MRI data of the brain were acquired and standardized.Degree centrality(DC),amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation(ALFF),and regional homogeneity(ReHo)were used to analyze local spontaneous brain activity via acupuncture.An independent component analysis was used to evaluate the functional connectivity of the resting brain networks after acupuncture.Results Analytical results showed that the neural activity intensity of the precuneus lobe,orbitofrontal cortex,lingual gyrus,amygdala,and posterior central gyrus decreased after acupuncture(voxel P<0.001,cluster P<0.05).Functional connectivity analysis revealed weakened auditory and right frontal-parietal networks(voxel P<0.001,cluster P<0.05),enhanced visual network(voxel P<0.001,cluster P<0.05),and synergistic auditory network and hypothalamic-pituitary system.Conclusion Significant differences in neural activity and functional connectivity in specific brain regions were observed after acupuncture intervention at uterine acupoints;the hypothalamic-pituitary system also showed various active states in different brain regions.It is speculated that the effective mechanism of acupuncture at uterine acupoints is related to the regulation of reproductive hormones,emotional changes,and somatic sensations.Therefore,the methods used in this study could clarify the neural mechanism of uterine-point acupuncture in the treatment of gynecological diseases and may serve as a reference for other studies pertaining to acupuncture.

The effects of prolonged sitting behavior on resting-state brain functional connectivity in college students post-COVID-19 rehabilitation:A study based on fNIRS technology

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS)was used to explore the effects of sedentary behavior on the brain functional connectivity characteristics of college students in the resting state after recovering from Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19).Twenty-two college students with sedentary behavior and 22 college students with sedentary behavior and maintenance of exercise habits were included in the analysis;moreover,8 min fNIRS resting-state data were collected.Based on the concentrations of oxyhemoglobin(HbO2)and deoxyhemoglobin(HbR)in the time series,the resting-state functional connection strength of the two groups of subjects,including the prefrontal cortex(PFC)and the lower limb supplementary motor area(LS),as well as the functional activity and functional connections of the primary motor cortex(M1)were calculated.The following findings were demonstrated.(1)Functional connection analysis based on HbO2 demonstrated that in the comparison of the mean functional connection strength of homologous regions of interest(ROIs)between the sedentary group and the exercise group,there was no significant difference in the mean functional strength of the ROIs between the two groups(p>0:05).In the comparison of the mean functional connection strengths of the two groups of heterologous ROIs,the functional connection strengths of the right PFC and the right LS(p?0:0097),the left LS(p?0:0127),and the right M1(p?0:0305)in the sedentary group were significantly greater.The functional connection strength between the left PFC and the right LS(p?0:0312)and the left LS(p?0:0370)was significantly greater.Additionally,the functional connection strength between the right LS and the right M1(p?0:0370)and the left LS(p?0:0438)was significantly greater.(2)Functional connection analysis based on HbR demonstrated that there was no significant difference in functional connection strength between the sedentary group and the exercise group(p>0:05)or between the sedentary group and the exercise group(p>0:05).Similarly,there was no significant difference in the mean functional connection strength of the homologous and heterologous ROIs of the two groups.Additionally,there was no significant difference in the mean ROIs functional strength between the two groups(p>0:05).Experimental results and graphical analysis based on functional connectivity indicate that in this experiment,college student participants who exhibited sedentary behaviors showed an increase in fNIRS signals.Increase in fNIRS signals among college students exhibiting sedentary behaviors may be linked to their status post-SARS-CoV-2 infection and the sedentary context,potentially contributing to the strengthened functional connectivity in the resting-state cortical brain network.Conversely,the fNIRS signals decreased for the participants with exercise behaviors,who maintained reasonable exercise routines under the same conditions as their sedentary counterparts.The results may suggest that exercise behaviors have the potential to mitigate and reduce the impacts of sedentary behavior on the resting-state cortical brain network.

Decreased regional homogeneity in major depression as revealed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging

Backgroud Functional imaging studies indicate abnormal activities in cortico-limbic network in depression during either task or resting state. The present work was to explore the abnormal spontaneous activity shown with regional homogeneity （ReHo） in depression by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI）.Methods Using fMRI, the differences of regional brain activity were measured in resting state in depressed vs. healthy participants. Sixteen participants firstly diagnosed with major depressive disorder and 16 controls were scanned during resting state. A novel method based on ReHo was used to detect spontaneous hemodynamic responses across the whole brain.Results ReHo in the left thalamus, left temporal lobe, left cerebellar posterior lobe, and the bilateral occipital lobe was found to be significantly decreased in depression compared to healthy controls in resting state of depression.Conclusions Abnormal spontaneous activity exists in the left thalamus, left temporal lobe, left cerebellar posterior lobe,and the bilateral occipital lobe. And the ReHo may be a potential reference in understanding the distinct brain activity in resting state of depression.

Acupuncture at the Taixi(KI3) acupoint activates cerebral neurons in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment

Our previous ifndings have demonstrated that acupuncture at the Taixi （KI3） acupoint in healthy youths can activate neurons in cognitive-related cerebral cortex. Here, we investigated whether acupuncture at this acupoint in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment can also activate neurons in these regions. Resting state and task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging showed that the pinprick senstation of acupuncture at the Taixi acupoint differed signiifcantly between elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment and healthy elderly controls. Results showed that 20 brain regions were activated in both groups of participants, including the bi-lateral anterior cingulate gyrus （Brodmann areas [BA] 32, 24）, left medial frontal cortex （BA 9, 10, 11）, left cuneus （BA 19）, left middle frontal gyrus （BA 11）, left lingual gyrus （BA 18）, right medial frontal gyrus （BA 11）, bilateral inferior frontal gyrus （BA 47）, left superior frontal gyrus （BA11）, right cuneus （BA 19, 18）, right superior temporal gyrus （BA 38）, left subcallosal gyrus （BA 47）, bilateral precuneus （BA 19）, right medial frontal gyrus （BA 10）, right superior frontal （BA 11）, left cingulate gyrus （BA 32）, left precentral gyrus （BA 6）, and right fusiform gyrus （BA 19）. These results suggest that acupuncture at the Taixi acupoint in elderly patients with mild cogni-tive impairment can also activate some brain regions.

Amplitude of Low-frequency Oscillations in Parkinson＇s Disease： A 2-year Longitudinal Resting-state Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Background：Neuroimaging studies have found that functional changes exist in patients with Parkinson＇s disease （PD）.However,the majority of functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） studies in patients with PD are task-related and cross-sectional.This study investigated the functional changes observed in patients with PD,at both baseline and after 2 years,using resting-state fMRI.It further investigated the relationship between whole-brain spontaneous neural activity of patients with PD and their clinical characteristics.Methods：Seventeen patients with PD underwent an MRI procedure at both baseline and after 2 years using resting-state fMRI that was derived from the same 3T MRI.In addition,20 age-and sex-matched,healthy controls were examined using resting-state fMRI.The fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation （fALFF） approach was used to analyze the fMRI data.Nonlinear registration was used to model within-subject changes over the scanning interval,as well as changes between the patients with PD and the healthy controls.A correlative analysis between the fALFF values and clinical characteristics was performed in the regions showing fALFF differences.Results：Compared to the control subjects,the patients with PD showed increased fALFF values in the left inferior temporal gyrus,right inferior parietal lobule （IPL） and right middle frontal gyrus.Compared to the baseline in the 2 years follow-up,the patients with PD presented with increased fALFF values in the right middle temporal gyrus and right middle occipital gyrus while also having decreased fALFF values in the right cerebellum,right thalamus,right striatum,left superior parietal lobule,left IPL,left precentral gyrus,and left postcentral gyrus （P 〈 0.01,after correction with AlphaSim）.In addition,the fALFF values in the right cerebellum were positively correlated with the Unified PD Rating Scale （UPDRS） motor scores （r =0.5 l,P 〈 0.05,uncorrected） and the change in the UPDRS motor score （r =0.61,P 〈 0.05,uncorrected）.Conclusions：The baseline and longitudinal changes of the fALFF values in our study suggest that dysfunction in the brain may affect the regions related to cortico-striato-pallido-thalamic loops and cerebello-thalamo-cortical loops as the disease progresses and that alterations to the spontaneous neural activity of the cerebellum may also play an important role in the disease＇s progression in patients with PD.