Influence of Acupuncture Stimulation on Cerebral Network in Functional Diarrhea

Abstract

Acupuncture is a commonly used therapy for treating functional diarrhea (FD), although there is limited knowledge on the mechanism. The objectives of this study were to investigate the differences in brain activities elicited by acupuncture between FD patients and healthy controls (HC) so as to explore the possible mechanism. Eighteen FD patients and eighteen HC received 10 sessions of acupuncture treatment at ST25 acupoints. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were, respectively, performed before and after acupuncture. The defecation frequency, Bristol stool form scale (SBFS), and MOS 36-item Short Healthy Survey (SF-36) were employed to evaluate the clinical efficacy. After acupuncture, the FD patients showed a significant decrease in defecation frequency and BSFS score. The regional homogeneity (ReHo) map showed a decrease in the paracentral lobule and postcentral gyrus, and an increase in the angular gyrus, insula, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and precuneus in the FD group. Moreover, the changes in ReHo values in the ACC were correlated with the reduction in defecation frequency. Decreasing functional connectivity among the ACC, insula, thalamus, and orbital frontal cortex only existed in the FD group. Conclusively, acupuncture alleviated defecation frequency and improved stool formation in FD patients. The efficacy might result from the regulation of the homeostasis afferent processing network.

Acupuncture-induced changes in functional connectivity of the primary somatosensory cortex varied with pathological stages of Bell’s palsy

“…In other words, the DMN could affect homeostasis and the ability to appropriately regulate internal experiences such as body state, feelings, and emotions. A recent study found that acupuncture led to functional connectivity changes in the homeostatic afferent network only in functional diarrhea patients, possibly because of their network’s functional abnormality 24. Our results support the finding in some way, as the connectivity changes in DMN-related regions are also only observed in the recovery groups.…”

The Status of the Quality Control in Acupuncture‐Neuroimaging Studies

“…Most of the studies were conducted in China (80 studies) [10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18–24, 26, 27, 29–31, 33–36, 43–46, 48, 51, 53, 54, 56, 58–66, 68–70, 72–75, 77, 78, 83, 84, 86, 87, 89, 90, 93, 95, 97, 99–101, 104, 111, 113, 115, 123, 137, 138, 142, 144–147, 154, 159, 161–166] and in USA (40 studies) [15, 28, 37, 38, 42, 57, 70, 71, 76, 80, 88, 91, 94, 96, 105–107, 118–120, 124–127, 129–131, 133–136, 140, 141, 148, 151, 152, 155, 156, 158, 174]. The investigators in Korea (16 studies) [7, 47, 49, 52, 55, 82, 85, 98, 102, …”

“…The investigators in Korea (16 studies) [7, 47, 49, 52, 55, 82, 85, 98, 102, 109, 112, 114, 116, 117, 122, 153], Taiwan (6 studies) [79, 110, 128, 170, 171, 175], Austria (6 studies) [132, 139, 150, 160, 168, 176], Germany (5 studies) [32, 50, 157, 167, 169], Australia (4 studies) [40, 41, 92, 121], Japan (4 studies) [39, 108, 149, 173], UK (4 studies) [17, 67, 81, 103], Italy (2 studies) [25, 172], and Denmark (1 study) [143] also published articles on acupuncture-neuroimaging (Figure 1). 60 studies [16, 19, 23, 25, 26, 37, 38, 42, 45, 46, 55, 56, 60, 62, 65, 67, 70–72, 75, 78, 81, 87, 88, 90, 93, 97, 100, 101, 104, 106, 107, 110, 111, 113–115, 117–121, 123, 126–129, 132, 134…”

Transabdominal electrical stimulation (TES) for the treatment of slow-transit constipation (STC)

“…Their analysis suggests the effect is mediated by the afferent sensory nerves which then modify ascending supraspinal control of defecation [31]. Stimulation of the pudendal nerve using acupuncture and electrical acupuncture also helps to decrease urgency frequency [56], systemic sclerosis [57], severe constipation [58,59], diarrhoea [60], faecal incontinence [61][62][63] and IBS [64]. We do not know what is the mechanism for the effect of TES.…”