Manoela Gallon Pitta, Kelly Zhang, Gustavo Henrique de Mello Rosa, Flávia Belavenuto Rangon, Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira Guirro, Marcelo Lourenço da Silva, João Eduardo de Araujo
{"title":"Evaluating Dielectric Properties for Assessing Water Content at Acupuncture Points: New Methodology.","authors":"Manoela Gallon Pitta, Kelly Zhang, Gustavo Henrique de Mello Rosa, Flávia Belavenuto Rangon, Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira Guirro, Marcelo Lourenço da Silva, João Eduardo de Araujo","doi":"10.51507/j.jams.2024.17.3.86","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Importance: </strong>Understanding acupuncture point microenvironments is vital for optimizing treatment efficacy. Evaluating changes in water content at these points can provide further insights into the effects of acupuncture on tissues.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to measure tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and assess changes in water content, specifically at stomach 36 (ST36, Zusanli) and spleen 6 (SP6, Sanyinjiao) acupuncture points.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a controlled, blinded, randomized trial, 113 healthy volunteers were divided into six groups based on TDC sensor diameters (XS, M, and L): three control groups and three acupuncture groups. They were assessed at three time points: T1, baseline; T2, 20 min post-needle withdrawal; and T3, 40 min post-needle withdrawal. Electrical impedance (EI) was also analyzed. Significance level was set at <i>p</i> < 0.001.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>TDC at ST36 and SP6 significantly decreased with the XS probe at T2 and T3 compared with that at T1 (F8, 452: 54.61). TDC did not significantly vary between T2 and T3 with M and L probes. EI data indicated that the current passage increased in the SP (F2, 226: 39.32) and ST (F2, 226: 37.32) groups during T2 and T3 compared with that during T1 within their respective groups and controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>and Relevance: This study demonstrated the efficacy of TDC measurements in detecting water content fluctuations at acupuncture points and their responses to needles. TDC measurements, which were validated against EI, provide valuable insights into acupuncture point microenvironments and thus help optimize treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":46854,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.51507/j.jams.2024.17.3.86","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Importance: Understanding acupuncture point microenvironments is vital for optimizing treatment efficacy. Evaluating changes in water content at these points can provide further insights into the effects of acupuncture on tissues.
Objective: This study aimed to measure tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and assess changes in water content, specifically at stomach 36 (ST36, Zusanli) and spleen 6 (SP6, Sanyinjiao) acupuncture points.
Methods: In a controlled, blinded, randomized trial, 113 healthy volunteers were divided into six groups based on TDC sensor diameters (XS, M, and L): three control groups and three acupuncture groups. They were assessed at three time points: T1, baseline; T2, 20 min post-needle withdrawal; and T3, 40 min post-needle withdrawal. Electrical impedance (EI) was also analyzed. Significance level was set at p < 0.001.
Results: TDC at ST36 and SP6 significantly decreased with the XS probe at T2 and T3 compared with that at T1 (F8, 452: 54.61). TDC did not significantly vary between T2 and T3 with M and L probes. EI data indicated that the current passage increased in the SP (F2, 226: 39.32) and ST (F2, 226: 37.32) groups during T2 and T3 compared with that during T1 within their respective groups and controls.
Conclusions: and Relevance: This study demonstrated the efficacy of TDC measurements in detecting water content fluctuations at acupuncture points and their responses to needles. TDC measurements, which were validated against EI, provide valuable insights into acupuncture point microenvironments and thus help optimize treatments.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal featuring high-quality studies related to basic and clinical acupuncture and meridian research. It also includes new paradigm of integrative research, covering East–West and traditional–modern medicine. Manuscripts should fall into one of the categories: topical review, original research paper, brief ... click here for full Aims & Scope The Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal featuring high-quality studies related to basic and clinical acupuncture and meridian research. It also includes new paradigm of integrative research, covering East–West and traditional–modern medicine.