Pilot study of blood perfusion coherence along the meridian in forearm

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Weibo Zhang¹  Wenting Zhou¹  Shuyong Jia¹  Yuying Tian¹  Guangjun Wang¹ 

[1] Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China

关键词: Inflatable occlusion;    Age;    Meridian;    Full-field laser blood perfusion imaging;    Coherence analysis;   

Others  :  1220503
DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6882-13-327

 received in 2013-05-07, accepted in 2013-11-19,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Many studies have explored the relationship between skin microcirculation and meridian activation. However, few studies have examined blood perfusion coherence along the meridians, and other studies have suggested that the skin vasodilator response relates to age. This study investigated blood perfusion coherence characteristics along the meridian of the forearm in healthy volunteers.

Methods

A total of 15 young subjects (25.53 ± 2.20) and 15 middle-aged subjects (50.07 ± 3.37) were recruited for this study. Before experiments, each subject was placed in a temperature-controlled room for 60 min. Skin blood perfusion from five points was recorded simultaneously using a full-field laser perfusion imager before and after inflatable occlusion. The five points comprised three points located on the pericardium meridian, and two points from different locations. Coherence analysis between these points was performed at different frequency intervals from 0.0095 to 2 Hz.

Results

In young subjects, the coherence value was unchanged before and after occlusion, and there was no significant difference in coherence value between meridian-meridian points (M-M) and meridian-parameridian points (M-P). In middle-aged subjects, the coherence value increased significantly in both M-M and M-P at frequency intervals of 0.14-0.4 Hz, 0.4-1.6 Hz, and 1.6-2 Hz. However, there was no significant difference in coherence values between M-M and M-P.

Conclusions

Inflatable occlusion can increase middle-aged subjects’ blood perfusion coherence value of the forearm. However, there is no specificity in meridian location.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Wang et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Wang GJ, Ayati MH, Zhang WB: Meridian studies in China: a systematic review. J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2010, 3(1):1-9.
• [2]Rezaei S, Khorsand A, Jamali J: Characterisation of human skin impedance at acupuncture point PC4 Ximen and pericardium meridian using the four-electrode method. Acupunct Med 2012, 30(2):127-131.
• [3]Ahn AC, Park M, Shaw JR, McManus CA, Kaptchuk TJ, Langevin HM: Electrical impedance of acupuncture meridians: the relevance of subcutaneous collagenous bands. Plos One 2010, 5(7):e11907.
• [4]Li HY, Yang JF, Chen M, Xu L, Wang WC, Wang F, Tong JB, Wang CY: Visualized regional hypodermic migration channels of interstitial fluid in human beings: are these ancient meridians? J Altern Complement Med 2008, 14(6):621-628.
• [5]Zhang WB, Tian YY, Li H, Tian JH, Luo MF, Xu FL, Wang GJ, Huang T, Xu YH, Wang RH: A discovery of low hydraulic resistance channel along meridians. J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2008, 1(1):20-28.
• [6]Li HY, Chen M, Yang JF, Yang CQ, Xu L, Wang F, Tong JB, Lv Y, Suonan C: Fluid Flow along Venous Adventitia in Rabbits: Is It a Potential Drainage System Complementary to Vascular Circulations? Plos One 2012, 7:7.
• [7]Yao W, Li Y, Ding G: Interstitial fluid flow: the mechanical environment of cells and foundation of meridians. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM 2012, 2012:853516.
• [8]Xu JS, Pan XH, Hu XL, Wu BH: Comparison between governor meridian and its bilateral control points in microcirculatory blood perfusion in 53 volunteer subjects. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu 2008, 33(5):321-325.
• [9]Ma SX, Li XY, Sakurai T, Pandjaitan M: Evidence of enhanced non-enzymatic generation of nitric oxide on the skin surface of acupuncture points: An innovative approach in humans. Nitric Oxide-Biol Ch 2007, 17(2):60-68.
• [10]Hsiu H, Huang SM, Chao PT, Jan MY, Hsu TL, Wang WK, Wang YYL: Microcirculatory characteristics of acupuncture points obtained by laser Doppler flowmetry. Physiol Meas 2007, 28(10):N77-N86.
• [11]Bernardi L, Rossi M, Fratino P, Finardi G, Mevio E, Orlandi C: Relationship between phasic changes in human skin blood flow and autonomic tone. Microvasc Res 1989, 37(1):16-27.
• [12]Hsiu H, Hsu WC, Hsu CL, Huang SM: Assessing the effects of acupuncture by comparing needling the hegu acupoint and needling nearby nonacupoints by spectral analysis of microcirculatory laser Doppler signals. Evid-Based Compl Alt 2011, 2011:435928.
• [13]Thorn CE, Matcher SJ, Meglinski IV, Shore AC: Is mean blood saturation a useful marker of tissue oxygenation? Am J Physiol-Heart Circul Physiol 2009, 296(5):H1289-H1295.
• [14]Bernjak A, Clarkson PB, McClintock PV, Stefanovska A: Low-frequency blood flow oscillations in congestive heart failure and after beta1-blockade treatment. Microvasc Res 2008, 76(3):224-232.
• [15]Kvandal P, Landsverk SA, Bernjak A, Stefanovska A, Kvernmo HD, Kirkeboen KA: Low-frequency oscillations of the laser Doppler perfusion signal in human skin. Microvasc Res 2006, 72(3):120-127.
• [16]Grosse P, Cassidy MJ, Brown P: EEG-EMG, MEG-EMG and EMG-EMG frequency analysis: physiological principles and clinical applications. Clin Neurophysiol 2002, 113(10):1523-1531.
• [17]Bertuglia S, Colantuoni A, Arnold M, Witte H: Dynamic coherence analysis of vasomotion and flow motion in skeletal muscle microcirculation. Microvasc Res 1996, 52(3):235-244.
• [18]Wong FY, Silas R, Hew S, Samarasinghe T, Walker AM: Cerebral oxygenation is highly sensitive to blood pressure variability in sick preterm infants. Plos One 2012, 7(8):e43165.
• [19]Muller M, Bianchi O, Erulku S, Stock C, Schwerdtfeger K, Homburg Traumatic Brain Injury G: Changes in linear dynamics of cerebrovascular system after severe traumatic brain injury. Stroke 2003, 34(5):1197-1202.
• [20]Hsiu H, Hsu WC, Chen BH, Hsu CL: Differences in the microcirculatory effects of local skin surface contact pressure stimulation between acupoints and nonacupoints: possible relevance to acupressure. Physiol Meas 2010, 31(6):829-841.
• [21]Litscher G, Wang L, Huber E, Nilsson G: Changed skin blood perfusion in the fingertip following acupuncture needle introduction as evaluated by Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging. Lasers Med Sci 2002, 17(1):19-25.
• [22]Hsiu H, Hsu WC, Chang SL, Hsu CL, Huang SM, Lin YYW: Microcirculatory effect of different skin contacting pressures around the blood pressure. Physiol Meas 2008, 29(12):1421-1434.
• [23]Litscher G: Bioengineering assessment of acupuncture, part 2: monitoring of microcirculation. Crit Rev Biomed Eng 2006, 34(4):273-294.
• [24]Niimi H, Yuwono HS: Asian traditional medicine: from molecular biology to organ circulation. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc 2000, 23(2–4):123-125.
• [25]Tsuru H, Kawakita K: Acupuncture on the Blood Flow of Various Organs Measured Simultaneously by Colored Microspheres in Rats. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2009, 6(1):77-83.
• [26]Hsiu H, Hsu WC, Hsu CL, Jan MY, Wang-Lin YY: Effects of acupuncture at the Hoku acupoint on the pulsatile laser Doppler signal at the heartbeat frequency. Lasers Med Sci 2009, 24(4):553-560.
• [27]Sandberg ML, Sandberg MK, Dahl J: Blood flow changes in the trapezius muscle and overlying skin following transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Phys Ther 2007, 87(8):1047-1055.
• [28]Kuo TC, Chen ZS, Chen CH, Ho FM, Lin CW, Chen YJ: The physiological effect of DE QI during acupuncture. J Health Sci 2004, 50(4):336-342.
• [29]Kuo TC, Lin CW, Ho FM: The soreness and numbness effect of acupuncture on skin blood flow. Am J Chinese Med 2004, 32(1):117-129.
• [30]Holowatz LA, Thompson-Torgerson CS, Kenney WL: The human cutaneous circulation as a model of generalized microvascular function. J Appl Physiol 2008, 105(1):370-372.
• [31]Stewart J, Kohen A, Brouder D, Rahim F, Adler S, Garrick R, Goligorsky MS: Noninvasive interrogation of microvasculature for signs of endothelial dysfunction in patients with chronic renal failure. Am J Physiol-Heart Circul Physiol 2004, 287(6):H2687-H2696.
• [32]Rossi M, Bradbury A, Magagna A, Pesce M, Taddei S, Stefanovska A: Investigation of skin vasoreactivity and blood flow oscillations in hypertensive patients: effect of short-term antihypertensive treatment. J Hypertens 2011, 29(8):1569-1576.
• [33]Holowatz LA, Houghton BL, Wong BJ, Wilkins BW, Harding AW, Kenney WL, Minson CT: Nitric oxide and attenuated reflex cutaneous vasodilation in aged skin. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2003, 284(5):H1662-H1667.
• [34]Tew GA, Klonizakis M, Saxton JM: Effects of ageing and fitness on skin-microvessel vasodilator function in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 2010, 109(2):173-181.
• [35]James MA, Tullett J, Hemsley AG, Shore AC: Effects of aging and hypertension on the microcirculation. Hypertension 2006, 47(5):968-974.
• [36]Gates PE, Strain WD, Shore AC: Human endothelial function and microvascular ageing. Exp Physiol 2009, 94(3):311-316.