Effects of acupuncture at the Hoku acupoint on the pulsatile laser Doppler signal at the heartbeat frequency.

We aimed to assess the effects of acupuncture by analyzing the alternating current (AC) component of skin blood-flow signals (around the heartbeat frequency) simultaneously recorded at the Hoku acupoint, which is an important acupoint in oriental medicine, and two nearby non-acupoints following acupuncture stimulation (AS). Laser Doppler flowmetry signals were measured in 28 experiments on nine volunteers. Each experiment involved the recording of a 20-min control-data sequence and two sets of effects data recorded 0-20 min and 50-70 min after the AS had been stopped. The direct current (DC) and AC components (DCflux and ACflux, respectively), pulse width (PW), and foot delay time (FDT) of the flux signal were calculated. The DCflux, ACflux, PW, and FDT were all significantly increased only at Hoku following AS. Regression analysis between the DCflux and ACflux revealed that the slope was largest (>1) at Hoku among the measurement sites. Our results indicated that both the DCflux and ACflux in the microcirculatory perfusion were increased by stimulation at the Hoku acupoint, with the change being greatest for the latter. Parameters calculated from the pulsatile flux waveform, such as the PW and FDT, could contribute to noninvasive evaluations of the sympathetic neural activities and of the improvement in perfusion following AS.

Noninvasive blood glucose monitoring using the optical signal of pulsatile microcirculation: a pilot study in subjects with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the conditions for optimizing measurements obtained with a noninvasive blood glucose monitor using the optical signal of pulsatile microcirculation (OSPM) in both prediabetic and diabetic subjects receiving medication. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Eighteen subjects (3 prediabetic, 15 diabetic) aged 61.8 [15.9] years (mean [S.D.]) were studied. OSPM was the pulsatile component (P) of the signal obtained and analyzed by a blood glucose monitor. The measurement was calibrated to the fingerstick meter for each subject for personal calibration. Data were obtained from all subjects using both meters. RESULTS: A total of 179 data pairs were measured and analyzed. The validity of the position of the tested finger was assessed using the position criterion, which resulted in the removal of 38 data pairs. The criterion for the intensity of the P signal was satisfied by 141 data pairs, with nonconforming data (with a much lower P signal) mainly occurring below 26 degrees C. A total of 113 data points passed both criteria, and 100% of them fell within Zones A and B of the Clarke error grid. Data in Zones A and B exhibited a linear relationship (r=.81; slope=0.82; intercept=28.0) between noninvasive and fingerstick measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental temperature has the greatest influence on the capability of the OSPM technique to monitoring blood glucose concentration, which is subject dependent. The position of the tested finger is the second major factor, hence a carefully designed finger adaptor is essential.