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Seeking specific response points from the three Yin meridians of foot using laser speckle contrast imaging in patients with primary dysmenorrhea

基于激光散斑衬比成像技术探寻原发性痛经患者足三阴经特异性反应穴位

  • Meridians and Points
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Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To seek specific response points on the body surface of patients with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) by observing blood perfusion unit (PU) at different points of the three Yin meridians of foot using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI).

Methods

Eighty PD patients were recruited as a PD group, and 80 healthy female undergraduates were taken as a normal group. During one menstrual cycle (before menstruation, during menstruation, and 3 d after menstruation), each participant was examined using the LSCI system to determine PU at bilateral Taixi (KI3), Taibai (SP3), Taichong (LR3), Shuiquan (KI5), Diji (SP8), Zhongdu (LR6), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Xuehai (SP10) and non-acupuncture points. The researchers in charge of point location, operation, and statistical analysis were not aware of grouping. PU at the detection spots was taken as the outcome measure.

Results

Compared with the normal group, the PD group showed increases in PU at right Taixi (KI3) before menstruation (P<0.05) and at bilateral Zhongdu (LR6) and right Diji (SP8) during menstruation (P<0.05). At the other time points, significance was not found between the two groups in comparing PU at the detected spots.

Conclusion

Compared with healthy participants, PD patients present specific changes in PU at Taixi (KI3), Diji (SP8), and Zhongdu (LR6) at specific time points during the menstrual cycle, which provides a reference for acupuncturemoxibustion treatment of PD in clinical settings.

摘要

目的

通过激光散斑衬比成像(LSCI)技术观察原发性痛经(PD)患者足三阴经不同穴位的血流灌注量(PU), 探寻PD患者体表特异性反应穴位. 方法: 选择PD患者80名为PD组, 正常女大学生80名作为正常组. 在一个月经周期内(经前、 经期、 经后3 d), 采用LSCI系统对每名受试者的双侧太溪、 太白、 太冲、 水泉、 地机、 中都、 三阴交、 血海和非经非穴处进行PU检测. 定位者、 操作者和统计人员均不了解分组情况. 结局指标为测试点的PU.

方法

选择PD患者80名为PD组, 正常女大学生80名作为正常组. 在一个月经周期内(经前、 经期、 经后3 d), 采用LSCI系统对每名受试者的双侧太溪、 太白、 太冲、 水泉、 地机、 中都、 三阴交、 血海和非经非穴处进行PU检测. 定位者、 操作者和统计人员均不了解分组情况. 结局指标为测试点的PU.

结果

与正常组比较, 经前PD组右侧太溪PU明显升高(P<0.05); 经期PD组双侧中都和右侧地机的PU均升高(P<0.05). 其他时间点的两组各测试点PU均无统计学差异(P>0.05).

结论

与健康受试者相比, PD患者的太溪、 地机、 中都局部PU在月经周期的特定时期会出现特异性变化, 可为临床针灸治疗PD提供选穴参考.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Regional Projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China (国家自然科 学基金地区项目, No. 81573884, No. 81973755, No. 81603542); Excellent Innovation Team Construction Project of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine (河北中医 学院优秀创新团队建设项目, No. JTZ2020008).

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Correspondence to Yanfen She  (佘延芬).

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Statement of Informed Consent

This trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine (Approval No. YXLL2015002). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants.

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Fan, X., Wei, P., Shi, X. et al. Seeking specific response points from the three Yin meridians of foot using laser speckle contrast imaging in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 21, 405–412 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-023-1399-8

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