Acupuncture at LR3 and KI3 shows a control effect on essential hypertension and targeted action on cerebral regions related to blood pressure regulation: a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture at LR3 and KI3 on hypertension at different time points and on related cerebral regions using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods We randomly divided 29 subjects into two groups: Group A (receiving acupuncture at LR3 + KI3; 15 subjects) and group B (receiving acupuncture at LR3 and a sham location not corresponding to any traditional acupuncture point; 14 subjects). Acupuncture was performed. Blood pressure (BP) changes were recorded and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 statistical software. We used a 3.0T MRI scanner and standard GE 8 channel head coil to collect whole brain fMRI data in both groups. Data analysis and processing was based on the R2009a MATLAB platform. REST 1.8 software was used to analyze the whole brain amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF). Results After acupuncture, a statistically significant reduction in BP at different time points was observed in group A. In group B, a statistically significant reduction was found only in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and was not sustained. Acupuncture at LR3 + KI3 specifically affected brain areas involved in BP regulation, as well as those involved in auditory sense, speech, vision, movement and sensation. Conclusion Acupuncture at LR3 + KI3 showed positive immediate and long-term effects on BP, particularly systolic blood pressure (SBP). After ALFF analysis, we concluded that LR3 + KI3 activates brain areas related to BP regulation. In addition, after acupuncture at LR3 + KI3, a highly targeted effect was observed in brain areas associated with BP. In addition, extracerebral areas involving vision, motion control, cognition and hearing were activated, which could potentially contribute to the mitigation of hypertensive complications in patients in an advanced stage of the disease.

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Correlation between the Effects of Acupuncture atTaichong(LR3) and Functional Brain Areas: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study Using True versus Sham Acupuncture

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2014/729091 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Chunxiao Wu ◽

Shanshan Qu ◽

Jiping Zhang ◽

Junqi Chen ◽

Shaoqun Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Data Processing ◽

Resting State ◽

Resting State Fmri ◽

Sham Acupuncture ◽

Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Brain Areas

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been shown to detect the specificity of acupuncture points, as proved by numerous studies. In this study, resting-state fMRI was used to observe brain areas activated by acupuncture at theTaichong(LR3) acupoint. A total of 15 healthy subjects received brain resting-state fMRI before acupuncture and after sham and true acupuncture, respectively, at LR3. Image data processing was performed using Data Processing Assistant for Resting-State fMRI and REST software. The combination of amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) was used to analyze the changes in brain function during sham and true acupuncture. Acupuncture at LR3 can specifically activate or deactivate brain areas related to vision, movement, sensation, emotion, and analgesia. The specific alterations in the anterior cingulate gyrus, thalamus, and cerebellar posterior lobe have a crucial effect and provide a valuable reference. Sham acupuncture has a certain effect on psychological processes and does not affect brain areas related to function.

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Why Blood Pressure and Body Mass Should be Controlled for in Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies.

10.1101/2021.06.02.446721 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Guro Stensby Sjuls ◽

Karsten Specht

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Body Mass ◽

Resting State ◽

Bold Signal ◽

Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Arterial Blood

Replicability has become an increasing focus within the scientific communities with the ongoing "replication crisis". One area that appears to struggle with unreliable results is resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Therefore, the current study aimed to improve the knowledge of endogenous factors that contribute to inter-individual variability. Arterial blood pressure, body mass, hematocrit, and glycated hemoglobin were investigated as potential sources of between-subject variability in rs-fMRI, in healthy individuals. Whether changes in resting state-networks (rs-networks) could be attributed to variability in the BOLD-signal, changes in neuronal activity, or both, was of special interest. Within-subject parameters were estimated utilizing Dynamic Causal Modelling (DCM) as it allows to make inferences on the estimated hemodynamic (BOLD-signal dynamics) and neuronal parameters (effective connectivity) separately. The results of the analyses imply that blood pressure and body mass can cause between-subject and between-group variability in the BOLD-signal and that all the included factors can affect the underlying connectivity. Given the results of the current and previous studies, rs-fMRI results appear to be susceptible to a range of factors, which is likely to contribute to the low degree of replicability of these studies. Interestingly, the highest degree of variability seems to appear within the much-studied Default Mode Network and its connections to other networks.

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