Biophysics of Acupuncture:Electrical Properties of Loose Connective Tissue

针灸生物物理学:疏松结缔组织的电特性

• 批准号: 7490602
• 负责人: Andrew C Ahn
• 金额: $ 13万
• 依托单位: HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-09-30 至 2010-09-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7490602
• 关键词: Acupuncture Points; Acupuncture procedure; Address; Affect; Anatomy; Area; Asians; Biophysics; Bladder; Classification; Clinical; Clinical Investigator; Clinical Research; Clinical Trials; Collaborations; Collagen; Communication; Communities; Complement; Connective Tissue; Credentialing; Crystal Formation; Development; Development Plans; Electric Conductivity; Environment; Foundations; Frequencies; Future; Goals; Hospital Referrals; Institutes; Intervention; Investigation; Kidney; Knowledge; Link; Loose connective tissue; Lung; Massachusetts; Measures; Medicine; Mentors; Meridians; Methodology; Muscle; Nature; Needles; PC6 extract; Physiological; Pilot Projects; Property; Public Health; Range; Reporting; Request for Proposals; Research; Research Personnel; Resistance; Resources; Review, Systematic (PT); Signal Transduction; Solid; Structure; Technology; Testing; Tissues; Training; Universities; Work; base; biomechanical engineering; career; clinical effect; clinically relevant; design; dielectric property; electric field; electric impedance; electrical property; experience; in vivo; liquid crystal; medical schools; meter; pericardial sac; programs; research study; skills; voltage

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite hundreds of clinical and mechanistic studies in acupuncture, the fundamental tenets of acupuncture - the point and meridian - are poorly understood. According to conventional wisdom within the acupuncture community, these structures are special conduits for electrical signals. This claim is supported by studies that report higher electrical conductivity (lower resistance/impedance) at acupuncture points compared to non-acupuncture points. However, the absence of an anatomic and physiologic explanation has undermined the credibility of this view. Now, robust evidence linking connective tissue to acupuncture structures has changed the research landscape and offers a new testable hypothesis: Electrical conduction through loose connective tissue is responsible for communication through the acupuncture network. This application proposes three goals to test this hypothesis; to examine the electrical properties of loose connective tissue, to study acupuncture's effect on these electrical properties, and to study the underlying biophysics to identify any clinically relevant mechanisms. A pilot study conducted by the candidate indicates that electrical impedance of connective tissue associated with Pericardium Meridian is significantly lower compared to parallel muscle-control tissue. To further test the hypothesis, this K-23 application has 3 specific aims : (1) to determine whether electrical impedances of three other meridian-associated connective tissue are lower compared to parallel controls; (2) to examine how needling an acupuncture point affects the electrical impedance of the corresponding meridian; (3) to study the in-vivo dielectric properties of loose connective tissue. The first 2 aims will be addressed by utilizing an impedance meter and testing subjects within the general clinical research center of a large, referral hospital. Aim 3 will use sophisticated machinery within a large academic university (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). The goal of these studies is to elucidate the physiologic functions of acupuncture points and meridians to help understand acupuncture's clinical effects and thereby promote treatment optimization. Completion of this research is supported by three essential components: (1) A core of highly skilled mentors in connective tissue, biomechanical engineering, East Asian medicines, and clinical research methodology; (2) coursework at MIT to expand the candidate's knowledge in connective tissue and biophysics; (3) a rich research environment offered by the combined resources of MIT and Harvard Medical School that will promote the candidate's present and .future investigations. This K-23 application will provide the candidate with specific training in biophysics, connective tissue, and clinical trials. Each of these skills will be critical to the candidate's long-term goal of becoming an independent clinical investigator with a focus on the biophysics of acupuncture.

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管针灸进行了数百种临床和机械研究，但针灸的基本原则 - 点和子午线 - 还是很了解。根据针灸群落中的常规智慧，这些结构是电信号的特殊导管。与非针灸点相比，在针灸点报告更高的电导率（较低的电阻/阻抗）的研究支持了这一主张。但是，没有解剖学和生理解释破坏了这种观点的信誉。现在，将结缔组织与针灸结构联系起来的可靠证据改变了研究领域，并提供了一个新的可检验的假设：通过松散结缔组织的电导传导负责通过针灸网络进行通信。 该申请提出了三个目标来检验这一假设。要检查松散结缔组织的电气特性，以研究针灸对这些电性能的影响，并研究潜在的生物物理学以识别任何临床相关的机制。候选人进行的一项试点研究表明，与平行的肌肉对照组织相比，与心包子午线相关的结缔组织的电阻抗明显低得多。为了进一步检验该假设，该K-23应用具有3个特定目的：（1）确定与平行对照相比，其他三个子午线相关结缔组织的电阻抗是否较低； （2）检查针灸点如何影响相应的子午线的电阻抗； （3）研究松散结缔组织的体内介电特性。前两个目标将通过在大型转诊医院的一般临床研究中心内利用阻抗表和测试对象来解决。 AIM 3将在大型学术大学（马萨诸塞州理工学院）中使用复杂的机械。这些研究的目的是阐明针灸点和子午线的生理功能，以帮助了解针灸的临床作用，从而促进治疗优化。 这项研究的完成得到了三个基本组成部分的支持：（1）结缔组织，生物力学工程，东亚药物和临床研究方法中高科技指导者的核心； （2）在麻省理工学院的课程工作，以扩大候选人在结缔组织和生物物理学方面的知识； （3）麻省理工学院和哈佛医学院的综合资源提供的丰富研究环境将促进候选人的现在和.Future调查。该K-23应用将为候选人提供生物物理学，结缔组织和临床试验的特定培训。这些技能中的每一个对于候选人成为独立临床研究者的长期目标至关重要，重点是针灸生物物理学。