OBJECTIVETo observe relative effects of acupuncture at Guangming (GB 37) and Taichong (LR 3) in central different regions.

METHODSNineteen healthy volunteers were randomly divided into 3 groups: group I (n=7) received visual stimulation and acupuncture at one side; group II (n=6) received visual stimulation and acupuncture at both sides; and group III (n=6) received acupuncture at both sides. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate reactions of the different visual cortexes and relative cerebral regions in acupuncture at Guangming (GB 37) and Taichong (LR 3).

RESULTSThere was no significant change in blood oxygen saturation levels in the visual cortex at visual stimulation and insertion of the needle, but there were changes in blood oxygen saturation level in relative cerebral regions when continuous stimulation was given to one-side or both sides.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at one-side or both sides can improve blood oxygen saturation level in relative cerebral regions, which is not related with manipulation method and visual stimulation.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Needles

OBJECTIVETo probe the theoretical basis of acupuncture by investigating the relationship of 'true' acupuncture and 'sham' acupuncture, with the cerebral functions observed by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

METHODSEighteen healthy volunteers with normal vision were randomly divided into group A and B. Firstly, all the volunteers received 'sham' acupuncture, and then acupuncture was given at Guangming (GB 37) and Taichong (LR 3) in the group A, and Fenglong (ST 40) and Xiangu (ST 43) were given in the group Activation in the thalamus, B.A 1.5 Tesla Vision Scanner (Siemens, Erlangen) was used for imaging.

RESULTSActivation in the thalamus, the red nucleus, the sulcus lateralis and the parieto-temporal cortex proved that there was a significant difference between true acupuncture and sham acupuncture in the GLM test.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture does not have effects on the visual cortex, but it has active action on the insula sulcus lateralis and the parieto-temporal cortex, which are involved in painful and somatosensory stimulation.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The optimal management of patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) is the subject of extensive debate. According to the 2017 European Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines, carotid endarterectomy should (Class IIa; Level of Evidence: B) or carotid artery stenting may be considered (Class IIb; Level of Evidence: B) in the presence of one or more clinical/imaging characteristics that may be associated with an increased risk of late ipsilateral stroke (e.g., silent embolic infarcts on brain computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging, progression in the severity of ACS, a history of contralateral transient ischemic attack/stroke, microemboli detection on transcranial Doppler, etc.), provided documented perioperative stroke/death rates are <3% and the patient’s life expectancy is >5 years. Besides these clinical/imaging characteristics, there are additional individual, ethnic/racial or social factors that should probably be evaluated in the decision process regarding the optimal management of these patients, such as individual patient needs/patient choice, patient compliance with best medical treatment, patient sex, culture, race/ethnicity, age and comorbidities, as well as improvements in imaging/operative techniques/outcomes. The present multispecialty position paper will present the rationale why the management of patients with ACS may need to be individualized.

The optimal management of patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) is the subject of extensive debate. According to the 2017 European Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines, carotid endarterectomy should (Class IIa; Level of Evidence: B) or carotid artery stenting may be considered (Class IIb; Level of Evidence: B) in the presence of one or more clinical/imaging characteristics that may be associated with an increased risk of late ipsilateral stroke (e.g., silent embolic infarcts on brain computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging, progression in the severity of ACS, a history of contralateral transient ischemic attack/stroke, microemboli detection on transcranial Doppler, etc.), provided documented perioperative stroke/death rates are <3% and the patient’s life expectancy is >5 years. Besides these clinical/imaging characteristics, there are additional individual, ethnic/racial or social factors that should probably be evaluated in the decision process regarding the optimal management of these patients, such as individual patient needs/patient choice, patient compliance with best medical treatment, patient sex, culture, race/ethnicity, age and comorbidities, as well as improvements in imaging/operative techniques/outcomes. The present multispecialty position paper will present the rationale why the management of patients with ACS may need to be individualized.