Resting-state brain function connectivity in patients with knee osteoarthritis treated with acupuncture based on continuous edge analysis
LI Wenbo
MA Xiaotong
ZHANG Cong
ZHENG Yunsong
WANG Zhiqun
LI Peng
WEI Wei
KANG Wulin
Abstract：Objective To explore the changes of the rest brain at rest functional connectivity in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA)after acupuncture treatment,so as to provide neuroimaging basis for clinical acupuncture treatment of KOA.Methods Twenty-five patients with KOA were enrolled in the study and treated with acupuncture for 3 weeks.The points of Dubi,Xuehai,Yanglingquan,Zusanli,Sanyinjiao,Neixiyan and Liangqiu group were selected for compatibility,5 times a week,30 minutes each time.The data of visual analogue scale(VAS),knee joint function scale(KSS)and resting state functional MRI of KOA patients before and after acupuncture were collected,and the changes of functional connectivity of various brain regions in KOA patients after acupuncture were described with the method of edge linking analysis,and the correlation analysis was made with the clinical scores.Results After acupuncture treatment,VAS score of KOA patients decreased significantly and KSS score increased significantly(P<0.001).Edge linking analysis showed that after acupuncture,functional connectivity of the right orbital inferior frontal gyrus and the left fusiform gyrus,the right angular gyrus and the left anterior cuneiform lobe,the right anterior central gyrus,the left insular inferior frontal gyrus and the left thalamus,the left posterior central gyrus and the right angular gyrus,and the right superior temporal gyrus were enhanced in KOA patients(P<0.001).Correlation analysis showed that the changes of functional connectivity in right angular gyrus and right anterior central gyrus(r=0.540,P=0.008),left posterior central gyrus and right superior temporal gyrus(r=0.654,P=0.001)were positively correlated with the changes of VAS.Conclusion Acupuncture may relieve pain and improve knee joint movement disorder in KOA patients by positively activating functional connections in some brain regions and strengthening connections between central analgesia regions.These brain regions are mainly distributed in the default mode network,sensorimotor network and cingulate island network.
Keywords：knee osteoarthritisscupunctureresting state functional magnetic resonance imagingedge connection analysisbrain functional connectivity
Publication Date：2023-12-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 983-988 )