Reducing craving and consumption in individuals with drug addiction, obesity or overeating through neuromodulation intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis of its follow-up effects.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Non-invasive brain stimulation has shown potential in clinical applications aiming at reducing craving and consumption levels in individuals with drug addiction or overeating behaviour. However, it is unclear whether these intervention effects are maintained over time. This study aimed to measure the immediate, short- and long-term effects of excitatory transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting at dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) in people with drug addiction or overeating. METHODS: A systematic review and random effects meta-analysis. We included 20 articles (total of 22 studies using randomized controlled trials: 3 alcohol dependence, 3 drug dependence, 12 smoking, 4 overeating; total: 720 participants) from January 2000 to June 2020, which reported at least one follow-up assessment of craving, consumption or abstinence levels after the intervention. We compared effects of active versus sham stimulation immediately after the intervention and at the last follow-up assessment, as compared with baseline. RESULTS: Excitatory neuromodulation of dlPFC activity reduced craving and consumption immediately after the intervention (craving: g = 0.734, CI = 0.447-1.021, P < 0.001; consumption: g = 0.527, CI = 0.309-0.745; P < 0.001), as well as during short-, mid- and long-term abstinence (craving: g = 0.677, CI = 0.440-0.914, P < 0.001; consumption: g = 0.445, CI = 0.245-0.645, P < 0.001; abstinence levels: g = 0.698, CI = 0.433-0.963, P < 0.001; average time of follow-up: 84 ± 83 days after last stimulation). Additional analysis demonstrated that the intervention effects were sustained in all populations studied (food, nicotine, alcohol or drug abuse) and with both stimulation techniques used (rTMS, tDCS). Interventions targeting at the left (vs right) hemisphere may be more effective. CONCLUSIONS: Excitatory neuromodulation targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex appears to lead to a sustained reduction of craving and consumption in individuals with addiction or overeating behaviour.

Weibo or WeChat? Assessing Preference for Social Networking Sites and Role of Personality Traits and Psychological Factors.

Research trying to understand individual difference in the use of different social networking sites (SNSs) is minimal. In the present study, we collected data from 714 college students in China (273 males) to assess how personality traits and psychological factors relate to excessive use of WeChat and Weibo. We found that excessive use of Weibo and WeChat correlated positively with neuroticism, loneliness, and external locus of control and negatively with agreeableness, social support, and social interaction. Furthermore, people that scored high on loneliness, lack of social support, and poor social interaction skills excessively used Weibo more than WeChat. These results entail that by fulfilling different needs, WeChat and Weibo attract different kinds of people; significant lesson for future development of SNSs.

[Effect of protamine on VEGF expression in vitreous and serum of rats with diabetic].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of protamine on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in vitreous and serum of rats with diabetic. METHODS: 110 rats were included in the study, with 10 rats for normal control and the other 100 for diabetic models that induced by Streptozocin intraperitoneal injection. Then 80 rats with diabetic were used as eight groups: three groups (T1, T2 and T3) for intravitreal injection of protamine (50 microg protamine in 5 microL), and the other five groups were used as control. After 3 months, the T1, T2 and T3 group received the first injection; after 4 months, the T2 and T3 group received the second injection; after 5 months, the T3 group received the third injection. The rats were executed one week after their last injection, the retinae of the rats were taken for HE staining, and expression of VEGF in the serum and vitreous were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: As diabetic developed, VEGF expression in both serum and vitreous rised (P < 0.05); after the second protamine injection, VEGF expression in vitreous began to decrease obviously (P < 0.05); but VEGF expression in the serum didn't change by protamine. Rat retinal HE staining for the diabetic model group revealed retinal thickening, local interrupt, inner and outer nuclear layer cell derangement and vascular proliferation, which were significantly improved for the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of protamine reduced VEGF expression in vitreous of rats with diabetic, and protamine might be a new treatment for diabetic retinopathy, especially for retinal neovascularization.

Clinical observation on electroacupuncture treatment of 30 cases of chronic hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the methods and therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on hepatitis B. METHODS: 60 hospitalized cases of mild or moderate hepatitis B were randomly divided into a treatment group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). EA was applied at the points selected according to the differentiation of symptoms and signs. The treatment was given once daily for 30 minutes, and 2 weeks of treatments constituted a therapeutic course, with 2-3 courses on average in the treatment group. Conventional treatment for liver protection was given in the control group. RESULTS: As compared with the control group, the duration of the treatment for recovery of the hepatic functions was significantly shorter, and the IL-8 level significantly lower in the treatment group. CONCLUSION: In treating hepatitis B, EA is effective in improving symptoms, recovering hepatic functions, and regulating immune functions to certain extent.