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(1) Background: The medical practice of acupuncture involves the insertion of a specialized stainless needle into a specific body point, often called an acupoint, to initiate a perceived phenomenon of de-qi sensation. Therefore, the term "de-qi" describes bodily sensations experienced by the recipient during acupuncture, which may include feelings of soreness, heaviness, fullness, numbness, and migration. However, while acupuncture treatments reportedly result in acupoint activation and an increased release of neurotransmitters or cytokines, detecting these substances released into the acupoint microenvironment is often missed or delayed in clinical and basic practice. (2) Methods: To address this situation, we employed a paper-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method to examine acupoint environmental changes using minute volumes of easily accessible acupoint fluids. (3) Results: Our results indicated that while levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, glutamate, substance P, and histamine were all increased in the experimental group following electroacupuncture (EA) treatment, contrary results were observed in the sham EA and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (Trpv1−/−) groups. Subsequently, TRPV1 and its associated molecules were augmented in mouse dorsal root ganglion, spinal cord, thalamus, and the somatosensory cortex, then examined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence techniques. Investigations revealed that these elevations were still unobserved in the sham EA or EA in the Trpv1−/− groups. Furthermore, results showed that while administering ATP could mimic EA function, it could be reversed by the ATP P2 receptor antagonist, suramin. (4) Conclusions: Our data provide novel information, indicating that changes in neurotransmitter and cytokine levels can offer insight into acupuncture mechanisms and clinical targeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for a scientific paper titled "Therapeutic Potential of a Combination of Electroacupuncture and Human iPSC-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles for Ischemic Stroke." The authors have identified an error in Figure 2F, where the sham group and the EA + iPSC-EVs group were duplicated. The authors state that this correction does not affect the scientific conclusions of the paper. The original publication has been updated to reflect this correction. The paper explores the use of electroacupuncture and small extracellular vesicles derived from human iPSCs for the treatment of ischemic stroke. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Lifestyle interventions have a direct impact on the gut microbiome, changing its composition and functioning. This opens an innovative way for new therapeutic opportunities for chronic widespread patients. Purpose: The goal of the present study was to evaluate a correlation between lifestyle interventions and the gut microbiome in patients with chronic widespread pain (CWP). Methods: The systematic review was conducted until January 2023. Pain and microbiome were the two keywords selected for this revision. The search was conducted in PubMed, Chochrane, PEDro and ScienceDirect, where 3917 papers were obtained. Clinical trials with lifestyle intervention in CWP patients were selected. Furthermore, these papers had to be related with the gut microbiome, excluding articles related to other types of microbiomes. Results: Only six articles were selected under the eligibility criteria. Lifestyle interventions were exercise, electroacupuncture and ingesting a probiotic. Conclusions: Lifestyle intervention could be a suitable choice to improve the gut microbiome. This fact could be extrapolated into a better quality of life and lesser levels of pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of signal processing using machine and deep learning algorithms has undergone significant growth in the last few years, with a wide scope of practical applications for electroencephalography (EEG). Transcutaneous electroacupuncture stimulation (TEAS) is a well-established variant of the traditional method of acupuncture that is also receiving increasing research attention. This paper presents the results of using deep learning algorithms on EEG data to investigate the effects on the brain of different frequencies of TEAS when applied to the hands in 66 participants, before, during and immediately after 20 min of stimulation. Wavelet packet decomposition (WPD) and a hybrid Convolutional Neural Network Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM) model were used to examine the central effects of this peripheral stimulation. The classification results were analysed using confusion matrices, with kappa as a metric. Contrary to expectation, the greatest differences in EEG from baseline occurred during TEAS at 80 pulses per second (pps) or in the 'sham' (160 pps, zero amplitude), while the smallest differences occurred during 2.5 or 10 pps stimulation (mean kappa 0.414). The mean and CV for kappa were considerably higher for the CNN-LSTM than for the Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MLP-NN) model. As far as we are aware, from the published literature, no prior artificial intelligence (AI) research appears to have been conducted into the effects on EEG of different frequencies of electroacupuncture-type stimulation (whether EA or TEAS). This ground-breaking study thus offers a significant contribution to the literature. However, as with all (unsupervised) DL methods, a particular challenge is that the results are not easy to interpret, due to the complexity of the algorithms and the lack of a clear understanding of the underlying mechanisms. There is therefore scope for further research that explores the effects of the frequency of TEAS on EEG using AI methods, with the most obvious place to start being a hybrid CNN-LSTM model. This would allow for better extraction of information to understand the central effects of peripheral stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to explore the roles of the combination of electroacupuncture (EA) and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (iPSC-EVs) on mice with ischemic stroke and the underlying mechanisms. A focal cerebral ischemia model was established in C57BL/6 mice through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). After 3 days, neurological impairment and motor function were examined by performing behavioral tests. The infarct volume and neuronal apoptosis were examined using TTC staining and TUNEL assays. Flow cytometry was performed to assess the proliferation of T lymphocytes. The changes in the interleukin (IL)-33/ST2 axis were evaluated by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The combination of EA and iPSC-EVs treatment ameliorated neurological impairments and reduced the infarct volume and neuronal apoptosis in MCAO mice. EA plus iPSC-EVs suppressed T helper (Th1) and Th17 responses and promoted the regulatory T cell (Treg) response. In addition, EA plus iPSC-EVs exerted neuroprotective effects by regulating the IL-33/ST2 axis and inhibiting the microglia and astrocyte activation. Taken together, the study shows that EA and iPSC-EVs exerted a synergistic neuroprotective effect in MCAO mice, and this treatment may represent a novel potent therapy for ischemic stroke and damage to other tissues.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication that affects memory, executive function, and processing speed postoperatively. The pathogenesis of POCD is linked to excessive neuroinflammation and pre-existing Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Previous studies have shown that acupuncture improves cognition in the early phase of POCD. However, POCD can last for longer periods (up to weeks and years). The long-term effects of acupuncture are unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that electroacupuncture (EA) could reduce inflammation and cognitive dysfunction induced by laparotomy over a longer period. We characterized the effects of postoperative EA on cognitive changes and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms in mice. Laparotomy was performed in 3-month-old mice followed by daily EA treatment for 2 weeks. Our data indicated that laparotomy induced prolonged impairment in memory and executive functions, which were mitigated by postoperative EA. EA also reduced tau phosphorylation and suppressed the activation of tau-related kinases and glia, with effects comparable to ibuprofen. These findings demonstrate the beneficial effects of EA in a mouse model of POCD, suggesting that EA's ability to suppress neuroinflammation may contribute to its protective effects. In conclusion, EA may be a viable non-pharmacological intervention for managing POCD in different phases of the medical condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutic electrical stimulation, such as transcranial cortical stimulation and peripheral somatosensory stimulation, is used to improve motor function in patients with stroke. We hypothesized that these stimulations exert neuroprotective effects during the subacute phase of ischemic stroke by regulating novel common signaling pathways. Male C57BL/6J mouse models of ischemic stroke were treated with high-definition (HD)-transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS; 20 Hz, 89.1 A/mm2), HD-transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS; intensity, 55 A/mm2; charge density, 66,000 C/m2), or electroacupuncture (EA, 2 Hz, 1 mA) in the early stages of stroke. The therapeutic effects were assessed using behavioral motor function tests. The underlying mechanisms were determined using transcriptomic and other biomedical analyses. All therapeutic electrical tools alleviated the motor dysfunction caused by ischemic stroke insults. We focused on electrically stimulating common genes involved in apoptosis and cell death using transcriptome analysis and chose 11 of the most potent targets (Trem2, S100a9, Lgals3, Tlr4, Myd88, NF-kB, STAT1, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and Iba1). Subsequent investigations revealed that electrical stimulation modulated inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and TNF-α, by regulating STAT1 and NF-kB activation, especially in amoeboid microglia; moreover, electrical stimulation enhanced neuronal survival by activating neurotrophic factors, including BDNF and FGF9. Therapeutic electrical stimulation applied to the transcranial cortical- or periphery-nerve level to promote functional recovery may improve neuroprotection by modulating a common neuronal death pathway and upregulating neurotrophic factors. Therefore, combining transcranial cortical and peripheral somatosensory stimulation may exert a synergistic neuroprotective effect, further enhancing the beneficial effects on motor deficits in patients with ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropathic pain, which is initiated by a malfunction of the somatosensory cortex system, elicits inflammation and simultaneously activates glial cells that initiate neuroinflammation. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to have therapeutic effects for neuropathic pain, although with uncertain mechanisms. We suggest that EA can reliably cure neuropathic disease through anti-inflammation and transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) signaling pathways from the peripheral to the central nervous system. To explore this, we used EA to treat the mice spared nerve injury (SNI) model and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms through novel chemogenetics techniques. Both mechanical and thermal pain were found in SNI mice at four weeks (mechanical: 3.23 ± 0.29 g; thermal: 4.9 ± 0.14 s). Mechanical hyperalgesia was partially attenuated by 2 Hz EA (mechanical: 4.05 ± 0.19 g), and thermal hyperalgesia was fully reduced (thermal: 6.22 ± 0.26 s) but not with sham EA (mechanical: 3.13 ± 0.23 g; thermal: 4.58 ± 0.37 s), suggesting EA's specificity. In addition, animals with Trpv1 deletion showed partial mechanical hyperalgesia and no significant induction of thermal hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain mice (mechanical: 4.43 ± 0.26 g; thermal: 6.24 ± 0.09 s). Moreover, we found increased levels of inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1 beta (IL1-β), IL-3, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon gamma after SNI modeling, which decreased in the EA and Trpv1−/− groups rather than the sham group. Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis showed similar tendencies in the dorsal root ganglion, spinal cord dorsal horn, somatosensory cortex (SSC), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In addition, a novel chemogenetics method was used to precisely inhibit SSC to ACC activity, which showed an analgesic effect through the TRPV1 pathway. In summary, our findings indicate a novel mechanism underlying neuropathic pain as a beneficial target for neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roots of Gentiana lutea L. are utilized in the preparation of various beverages and herbal remedies, serving as a traditional remedy for gastrointestinal ailments. The spasmolytic activity that could substantiate the traditional use of G. lutea root had not been investigated. The main objective goal of the study was to determine the validity of its use as a traditional remedy. The extraction of G. lutea root was performed using a 50% hydroethanolic solvent with three different extraction techniques: ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), heat-assisted extraction, and percolation. The spasmolytic activity was tested on isolated rat ileum. The mechanism of action was monitored using the models of spontaneous contractions and acetylcholine-, histamine-, CaCl2-, Bay K8644-, L-NAME-, ODQ-, apamin-, BaCl2-, charybdotoxin-, glibenclamide-, TRAM-34-, and quinine-modified contractions. UAE, having the best bioactivity, was further subjected to a liquid–liquid extraction fractionation. HPLC phytochemical analysis was performed for all tested extracts and fractions. Gentian root extracts were rich in secoiridoids, xanthones, and flavonoids. The UAE has shown better results on spontaneous contractions in comparison to its fractions, leading to the more detailed testing of its spasmolytic mechanism of activity. The extract's activity is primarily mediated through intermediate conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels, ATP-sensitive K+ channels, voltage-sensitive K+ channels, and mechanisms that activate Ca2+ channels. Overall, the G. lutea root shows great potential in the treatment of spasmodic gastrointestinal ailments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex, chronic, widespread pain syndrome that can cause significant health and economic burden. Emerging evidence has shown that neuroinflammation is an underlying pathological mechanism in FM. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key mediators of the immune system. TLR4 is expressed primarily in microglia and regulates downstream signaling pathways, such as MyD88/NF-κB and TRIF/IRF3. It remains unknown whether electroacupuncture (EA) has therapeutic benefit in attenuating FM pain and what role the TLR4 pathway may play in this effect. We compared EA with sham EA to eliminate the placebo effect due to acupuncture. We demonstrated that intermittent cold stress significantly induced an increase in mechanical and thermal FM pain in mice (mechanical: 2.48 ± 0.53 g; thermal: 5.64 ± 0.32 s). EA but not sham EA has an analgesic effect on FM mice. TLR4 and inflammatory mediator-related molecules were increased in the thalamus, medial prefrontal cortex, somatosensory cortex (SSC), and amygdala of FM mice, indicating neuroinflammation and microglial activation. These molecules were reduced by EA but not sham EA. Furthermore, a new chemogenetics method was used to precisely inhibit SSC activity that displayed an anti-nociceptive effect through the TLR4 pathway. Our results imply that the analgesic effect of EA is associated with TLR4 downregulation. We provide novel evidence that EA modulates the TLR4 signaling pathway, revealing potential therapeutic targets for FM pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture has been used extensively in domestic animal medicine to treat a variety of medical conditions and diseases as an adjunct or primary therapy. Exotic animals are becoming increasingly common as pets. Owners are expecting therapies for these non-domestic animals to be similar to those available to their other domestic pets. Additionally, zoological and aquatic facilities provide medical care for the entire lives of the animals that are housed in their facilities. Many conditions similar to those observed in domestic animals can develop in zoological species and can benefit from treatment with acupuncture. Through operant conditioning or routine medical examinations, the use of acupuncture as an adjunct therapy is becoming more common. The following paper presents a summary of the types of non-domestic animals treated, for which conditions, and how these methods are commonly used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is the pain occurred in the pelvic region longer than six months. The monotherapy of medicine may not adequate for the pain management of CPP and multidisciplinary approaches have been more recommended. The aim of this study is to evaluate the pain management efficacy of acupuncture compared with a control group on CPP. The articles of randomized controlled trial on CPP in PubMed and Embase databases were screened between January 2011 and September 2022 without language restriction to evaluate the treatment efficacy of acupuncture. The visual analogue scale/numerical rating scale (VAS/NRS) and total pain scores of National Institutes of Health—chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI) were served as outcome variables. Post-intervention mean scores were extracted and pooled for meta-analysis. Seventeen studies including 1455 patients were selected for meta-analysis. Both total pain scores of NIH-CPSI and VAS/NAS data revealed significant lower pain level in the acupuncture group than in the control group. Moreover, monotherapy with acupuncture revealed a significantly lower pain level than in the control group in both total pain scores of NIH-CPSI and VAS/NRS. These results indicated that acupuncture may have beneficial effects on pain management for CPP, even when administrated as a monotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a complex clinical disorder associated with poor outcomes. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been demonstrated to have an important role in both clinical and pre-clinical depression investigations. Evidence has suggested that the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), NLRP3, and IL-1β play an important role in depressive disorder. Our study is aimed at exploring the role of EA in alleviating depression-like behaviors in rats. We therefore investigated the effects of EA on the prefrontal cortex and liver of rats subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) through behavior tests, transmission electron microscopy, Nissl staining, HE staining, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Five weeks after exposure to CUMS, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats showed depression-like behavior. Three weeks after treatment with brilliant blue G (BBG) or EA, depressive symptoms were significantly improved. Liver cells and microglia showed regular morphology and orderly arrangement in the BBG and EA groups compared with the CUMS group. Here we show that EA downregulated P2X7R/NLRP3/IL-1β expression and relieved depression-like behavior. In summary, our findings demonstrated the efficacy of EA in alleviating depression-like behaviors induced by CUMS in rats. This suggests that EA may serve as an adjunctive therapy in clinical practice, and that P2X7R may be a promising target for EA intervention on the liver–brain axis in treatment of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The regulation of microcirculation depends on the dynamic interaction of different factors: the autonomic nervous system plays a pivotal role in the blood flow and acupuncture can modulate it, obtaining different results depending on the site, the frequency, and the intensity of the stimulation. Methods: 18 healthy subjects have been enrolled and have undergone two sessions of electroacupuncture stimulations: one session using high frequency and one with low frequency. Microcirculation has been monitored continuously during stimulation using the laser Doppler method. Results: The microcirculatory parameters have shown a significant difference between high and low-frequency stimulation, suggesting that low-frequency stimulation is more effective for obtaining a vasodilator effect. Discussion: Our results show that low-frequency stimulation can increase the cutaneous microcirculatory flux, without significantly modifying blood pressure and heart rate. The auricular stimulation causes an increase in the activity of the vagus nerve, increasing the cholinergic activity without acting on post-junctional muscarinic receptors. Conclusion: Auricular acupuncture has a significant impact on the regulation of microcirculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of veterinary acupuncture for pain relief is expanding among small animal practitioners. Although acupuncture was developed as part of the medical system in Ancient China, research into the scientific basis of its effects is expanding rapidly. Acupuncture is very effective for analgesia on a local, segmental, and suprasegmental level. Many forms of acupuncture can be used independently or as part of a balanced multi-modal approach for the control of acute and chronic pain. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, acupuncture can be a safe and effective modality for treating pain in companion animals. This article outlines the mechanisms of action of acupuncture, its related neurophysiology and provides examples from the literature demonstrating its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective technique to treat patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. The surgical procedure of DBS implantation is generally performed under local anesthesia due to the need for intraoperative clinical testing. However, this procedure is long (5–7 h on average) and, therefore, the objective that the patient remains co-operative and tolerates the intervention well is a real challenge. Objective: To evaluate the additional benefit of electroacupuncture (EA) performed intraoperatively to improve the comfort of parkinsonian patients during surgical DBS implantation. Methods: This single-center randomized study compared two groups of patients. In the first group, DBS implantation was performed under local anesthesia alone, while the second group received EA in addition. The patients were evaluated preoperatively, during the different stages of the surgery, and 2 days after surgery, using the 9-item Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), including a total sum score and physical and emotional subscores. Results: The data of nine patients were analyzed in each group. Although pain and tiredness increased in both groups after placement of the stereotactic frame, the ESAS item "lack of appetite", as well as the ESAS total score and physical subscore increased after completion of the first burr hole until the end of the surgical procedure in the control group only. ESAS total score and physical subscore were significantly higher at the end of the intervention in the control group compared to the EA group. After the surgical intervention (D2), anxiety and ESAS emotional subscore were improved in both groups, but the feeling of wellbeing improved in the EA group only. Finally, one patient developed delirium during the intervention and none in the EA group. Discussion: This study shows that intraoperative electroacupuncture significantly improves the tolerance of DBS surgery in parkinsonian patients. This easy-to-perform procedure could be fruitfully added in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroacupuncture (EA) can relieve various pains. However, its mechanism in terms of the transcriptome is still not well-known. To explore the full profile of EA-induced molecular modification in the central nerve system, three twins of goats were selected for a match-paired experiment: EA stimulation (60 Hz, 30 min) and none-EA (control). Goats in the EA group showed an increased (p < 0.05) nociceptive threshold compared with the control goats. Experimental goats were sacrificed at 4 h of the experiment, and the periaqueductal grays were harvested for RNA sequencing. As a result, 2651 differentially expressed genes (1803 up-regulated and 848 down-regulated genes) were found and enriched in 30 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways and 149 gene ontology terms. EA-regulated five neuropeptide genes (proenkephalin, proopiomelanocortin, preprodynorphin, diazepam-binding inhibitor and proprotein convertase 1 inhibitor) were validated with quantitative PCR. Furthermore, up-regulated glutamate receptors, glutamate transporters, -aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, GABA transporters, synaptotagmins or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) genes might contribute to EA-induced analgesia through regulating the glutamatergic synapse, GABAergic synapse, MAPKs, ribosome or ubiquitin-proteasome pathways. Our findings reveal a full profile of molecular modification in response to EA and provide a solid experimental framework for exploring the mechanisms underlying EA-induced analgesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease. The pathological hallmark of PD is a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta in the brain, ultimately resulting in severe striatal dopamine deficiency and the development of primary motor symptoms (e.g., resting tremor, bradykinesia) in PD. Acupuncture has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat PD for the control of tremor and pain. Accumulating evidence has shown that using electroacupuncture (EA) as a complementary therapy ameliorates motor symptoms of PD. However, the most appropriate timing for EA intervention and its effect on dopamine neuronal protection remain unclear. Thus, this study used the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-lesioned mouse model (systemic-lesioned by intraperitoneal injection) and the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-lesioned rat model (unilateral-lesioned by intra-SN infusion) of PD, to explore the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of EA at the GB34 (Yanglingquan) and LR3 (Taichong) acupoints. We found that EA increased the latency to fall from the accelerating rotarod and improved striatal dopamine levels in the MPTP studies. In the MPP+ studies, EA inhibited apomorphine induced rotational behavior and locomotor activity, and demonstrated neuroprotective effects via the activation of survival pathways of Akt and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the SN region. In conclusion, we observed that EA treatment reduces motor symptoms of PD and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in rodent models, whether EA is given as a pretreatment or after the initiation of disease symptoms. The results indicate that EA treatment may be an effective therapy for patients with PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical evidence of acupuncture predates written history. It has been a component of Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine for many generations and is officially recognized in recorded history for treating equine disease in the Zhou Dynasty, circa 1050 BC. Drawing from a range of searchable databases, we present the use of veterinary acupuncture related to theriogenology. We touch on human-based medicine only as an introduction to current uses within veterinary medical acupuncture. This review is confined to the use of acupuncture encompassing dry needle, electroacupuncture, aquapuncture, and the few reports of laserpuncture. Starting with acupuncture's influence on the master organs of reproduction, the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, we then review reports specific to the gonads—ovaries and testicles—and then its influences on the uterus. From there, we review reports on the influence of acupuncture on pain associated with reproductive surgery, and finally, on the use of acupuncture for maternal lactation. Based on published reports, we conclude that acupuncture has been shown to be effective in many situations as a treatment for infertility and/or reproductive tract disfunction, resulting in improvements in both female and male patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: In this study, we attempted to determine the effects of acupuncture on cardiac remodeling and atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence rates in patients with AF after electrical cardioversion (EC). Materials and Methods: We randomly assigned 44 patients with persistent AF to an acupuncture group or a sham acupuncture group. An electroacupuncture treatment session was administered once weekly for 12 weeks at four acupuncture points (left PC5, PC6, ST36, and ST37). Results: Among the 44 recruited participants, 16 (treatment group) and 15 (control group) completed the trial. The three-month AF recurrence rate (primary outcome) was not significantly different between the two groups. Following the completion of treatment, patients who had been treated with acupuncture had a significant reduction in left atrial volume index (42.2 ± 13.9 to 36.1 ± 9.7 mL/m2; p = 0.028), whereas no change in atrial size was observed in the sham acupuncture group. No serious adverse events were observed. The AF recurrence rate and cardiac function did not differ significantly between the two groups. At three months, the acupuncture treatment group showed more favorable atrial structural remodeling compared to the sham acupuncture group. Conclusion: In future research on acupuncture in AF management, it is recommended that the inclusion criteria be amended to include only symptomatic AF, that an appropriate control group is designed, and that the acupuncture treatment frequency is increased to several times per week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although electroacupuncture (EA) is an effective treatment for pain relief, there has been no systematic review of EA treatment for temporomandibular disorder TMD. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EA in TMD management. We searched 14 databases until April 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of EA on TMDs. Eleven RCTs with 667 patients that used three acupuncture points (ST6, ST7, and LI4) were included. Two RCTs reported significant effects of EA plus microwave treatment compared with EA treatment alone on the total effectiveness rate (TER) for TMD. Further, two studies reported that compared with ultrashort wave alone, EA plus ultrashort wave had a significant effect on the TER for TMD and visual analog scale. All RCTs did not report adverse events. Our findings demonstrated the positive potential of EA in TMD management. However, there was weak evidence regarding EA use for TMD management given the poor quality and small sample sizes of the included studies. In the future, well-designed RCTs are required. It is necessary to investigate clinical trials and systematic reviews to compare the effectiveness and safety of EA and acupuncture for TMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to identify energy saving instructions effect on household's electricity consumption. The research was conducted using Randomized Control Trials, which implied defining a treatment and control group on a sample of 330 households. The research was carried out in Republic of Serbia, where electricity prices are the lowest in Europe and electricity is used inefficiently. For quantitative analysis of data, the Difference in Difference method was used, which compares the changes in electricity consumption over time between the treatment and control group and estimates the overall impact of the energy saving instructions. The research showed that in situations where electricity price is very low, energy saving information does not have the significant impact on change in consumer behavior. However, inefficient use of electricity might be due to the different efficiency of heating devices used. Not only that the low impact of information on energy saving habits may be a consequence of the low will to change habit, but also of the impossibility to change the habit (unless changing the heating device, but this implies expenditures). Results can be used for consideration of changes in organization and regulation of the electricity market in all South Eastern European countries (SEE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This review aims to provide an overview of the relevance of electroacupuncture in dogs with spinal cord injury. We illustrate and discuss the areas that have advanced in recent years and those that still require further research. Systematic studies have been conducted on Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Cab Direct, and Research Gate. This article is believed to be the first review of electroacupuncture in dogs with spinal cord injury. Electroacupuncture provides better analgesia than direct acupuncture by increasing spinal opioid release and increases blood supply to the spinal cord and nerve root. When combined together, Eastern and Western treatment offers faster recovery and improved ambulation and perception of deep pain than medical treatment results alone. In recent years, the use of acupuncture and electroacupuncture has been increasing as more clinical research has been conducted showing positive results in the treatment of animals, particularly dogs. Electroacupuncture is a more complex and specific acupuncture technique that involves electrical stimulation on acupuncture needles. Most of the studies have shown that the beneficial effects of electroacupuncture are more evident than in acupuncture alone. This review included studies focused only on dogs with spinal cord injury. Research facility animals (mice, rats, and rabbits) were avoided. Titles and abstracts of identified articles were read, and outlines were made to be better understood. Clinical applications are discussed and suggested in each section. When specialists use this method, electroacupuncture can be an excellent complementary therapy for veterinary patients' pain control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Status epilepticus (SE) is one of the most significant complications in pediatric neurology. Clinical studies have shown positive effects of electroacupuncture (EA) as a therapeutic alternative in the control of partial seizures and secondary generalized clonic seizures. EA promotes the release of neurotransmitters such as GABA and some opioids. The present study aimed to evaluate the anticonvulsive and neuromodulatory effects of Shui Gou DM26 (SG_DM26) acupuncture point electrostimulation on the expression of the glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) enzyme and the glutamate transporter EAAC1 in an early SE model. At ten postnatal days (10-PD), male rats weighing 22–26 g were divided into 16 groups, including control and treatment groups: Simple stimulation, electrostimulation, anticonvulsant drug treatment, and combined treatment—electrostimulation and pentobarbital (PB). SE was induced with kainic acid (KA), and the following parameters were measured: Motor behavior, and expression of GAD67 and EAAC1. The results suggest an antiepileptic effect derived from SG DM26 point EA. The possible mechanism is most likely the increased production of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which is observed as an increase in the expression of both GAD67 and EAAC1, as well as the potential synergy between the neuromodulator effects of EA and PB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]