Modulation effects of different treatments on periaqueductal gray resting state functional connectivity in knee osteoarthritis knee pain patients.

この研究はインパクトが大きい可能性があると判断されました。 OEのAIによるハイインパクト指標は、論文が掲載されたジャーナルと論文自体の科学的内容の両方からのシグナルを統合することで、論文の影響力を推定します。 最先端の自然言語処理を用いて開発されたOEハイインパクトモデルは、ジャーナルのインパクトファクターのみよりも、研究の将来の引用実績をより正確に予測します。 これにより、臨床的に意義のある研究をより早く認識することができ、読者は将来の診療を形成する可能性が最も高い論文に焦点を当てることができます。

研究概要

One hundred eighty (180) patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) knee pain were randomized into five groups: verum acupuncture (VA, n=36), sham acupuncture (SA, n=36), celecoxib (SC, n=36), placebo (PB, n=36), and waiting list (WT, n=36). Additionally, 41 healthy controls (HCs) were included. Patients in the VA and SA groups received 10 acupuncture sessions over two weeks, while the SC group received celecoxib (200 mg daily), the PB group received a placebo capsule, and the WT group received no treatment. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed before and after treatment to assess the primary outcome of PAG rs-FC modulation. Secondary outcomes included changes in knee pain scores measured by the visual analog scale (VAS), short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Overall, the results revealed that all treatment groups showed pain improvement. Acupuncture increased vlPAG rs-FC with brain regions involved in cognitive control, attention, and reappraisal. Compared to celecoxib and placebo, acupuncture demonstrated distinct modulation effects on PAG connectivity. These findings suggest acupuncture may exert its analgesic effects via both peripheral and central mechanisms, offering a non-pharmacological alternative for KOA pain management.