Background : A system for measuring electrical resistance along meridian routes, using a built-in, standardized electrode mechanism with fixed-load, 10 mA (JIS allowance value) current generating IC circuit was newly devised, and the route impedance of 12 meridians (Rm kΩ) were obtained at each source acupoint in situ. These values were clinically investigated in 259 ambulant patients with a background of eastern sho (symptoms), and statistical analysis.Measurement and Result:Rm ranged from 156 to 1520 kΩ in 6 6males (age : 3 ∼ 48 years) and 99 females (age : 10 ∼ 87 years).1) Rm over 300 kΩ, denoted as qi deficiency, was recognized in the LR, GB, ST, SP, HT, BL and KI meridians of the males, and additionally in the SI meridians of the females older than 50 years, and only in the GB meridians of those younger than 50 years.2) A positive correlation with age was only recognized in the Lu, L1and S1meridian flow of those younger than 50 years in the male patient group, while in females younger than 50 years, this correlation was recognized in ST, SP, HT and BL meridians, while in those over 50 years, it was only recognized in ST meridians.3) Among the 54 cases of qi deficiency, a positive correlation between age and Rm was recognized only in 10 meridians of the females and in 52 “blood-emptiness” cases, 4 meridians of the males, and 2 meridians of the females and in 51 cases of “blood stasis” group, 8 meridians of the males and 2 meridians of the females.Conclusion : The Rm values found with the newly-devised meridian route impedance measurement system were significant in an eastern medicine way with qi rather, than “Blood” in sho pathogenesis.
Measurement ; Age, NOS ; Lower case kay ; Electrodes ; Devices

It is important to verify the characteristic condition of meridian & acupoint for diagnosis and treatment in oriental medicine. The characteristics of meridian and acupoint are concerned with electromagnetism. The methods of diagnosis and treatment with the concept of meridian and acupoint applying bioelectronical technology had been developed. We investigated electric current when electro-acupuncture was performed between the acupoints of Large Intestine Meridian, and recognized the electrophysiological characteristics of meridian and acupoint as follows.
1) Electric current between the acupoints and its waveform durig electro-acupuncture were differed by whether the direction of electric current corresponded to meridian Qi flow direction. Especially this difference was significantly secognized when meridian Qi flow was inferred to be disturbed by some diseased conditions.
2) As far as the characteristic of electric current waveforms between the acupoints concerns, electric capacity which is changeable according to the diseased conditions must be considered as a component of acupoint.

We examined electric characteristics of the acupoints as compared with non-acupoints, and studied the changes of capillary blood flow due to electro-acupuncture in order to examine the relation between the direction of electric current and the meridian Qi flow direction which was described traditionally. Electrophysiological characteristics of the meridian & acupoint were as follows.
(1) From the analysis of electric current waveform between the acupoints (LI4 and LI10) in comparison with non-acupoints, the impedance of acupoints was smaller than non-acupoints. And this difference between the acupoints and non-acupoints was also verified by vector impedance meter.
(2) Electro acupuncture at LI4 and LI10 induced a significant increase in capillary blood flow when the direction of negative ionic flow corresponded with classical meridian Qi flow direction. On the other hand when the negative ionic flow was regarded as opposite direction to classical meridian Qi flow, capillary blood flow was not increased. Therefore the relationship between the direction of bioionic flow (negative ionic flow) and meridian Qi flow direction was postulated.

So far when the ORT has been used for identification of meridians and acupoints a piece of the palm of the test person.
In the present study we examined the usefullness of adding a neurotransmitter (dopamine, adrenalin, noradrenalin, GABA, serotonin, acetylcholine) to the tissue sample.
It was found that this procedure led to an increased accuracy in the identification of meridians and acupoints.
The study suggests that sdding neurotransmitters to the tissue sample improves the usefullness of the ORT.

In order to study the hemodynamic effect of electrical acupuncture (EAP), we have investigated the changes of cephalic vein blood flow (V_BF), capillary blood flow (C_BF), bilateral palm temperature (PT), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) due to EAP (at LI_4-10) and compared them with the changes due to a rapid infusion (0.4ml/kg/min) of 3.5% modified gelatine solution (Haemaccel^®).
V_BF, C_BF, PT were decreased immediately after EAP and thereafter increased. Besides, EAP induced an increase of impedance SV (117.6±6.60% at the maximum) and Haemaccel infusion caused an increase of impedance SV (116.33±11.57% at the maximum). From the above experimental results, it may be asserted that the increase in SV would be the most important factor upon an increase of peripheral blood flow due to EAP, and then the degree of the cardiovascular effect of the EAP was quantitatively evaluated to be equipotential to the volume loading due to Haemaccel infusion with the amount 0.4ml/kg/min for ten minutes.

The neuromuscular and hem+odynamic effects of mivacurium 0.15 mg/kg and succinylcholine 1 mg/kg were compared in 26 adult patients (ASA I and II) during nitrous oxide-oxygen-propofol-fentanyl anesthesia. Neuromuscular block was monitored by recording the compound electromyogram of the hypothenar muscle resulting from supramaximal train-of-four stimuli applied to the ulnar nerve. Time to onset of over 95% block and duration to 25% recovery of control twitch after injection of mivacurium were significantly longer than for succinylcholine (201 +/- 37.6 vs 54 +/- 5.2 sec and 13.0 +/- 2.2 vs 8.4 +/- 2.1 min; mean +/- SD). Onset of mivacurium with priming technique was shortened (125 +/- 20.7 sec), but was also slower than that of succinylcholine. Although the recovery index during spontaneous recovery was significantly longer for mivacurium than for succinylcholine (6.9 +/- 1.3 vs 5.1 +/- 0.9 min), antagonism with neostigmine at 25% recovery of twitch height sufficiently facilitated the recovery index of mivacurium (4.5 +/- 1.0 min) to a level similar to that of succinylcholine with no statistical difference. The hemodynamic effects of mivacurium were few as compared to those of succinylcholine. In conclusion, mivacurium is considered to have additional advantages for short procedures when succinylcholine is undesirable.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Female ; Fentanyl/administration & dosage ; Hemodynamics/*drug effects ; Humans ; Isoquinolines/*pharmacology ; Male ; Neuromuscular Junction/*drug effects ; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents/*pharmacology ; Nitrous Oxide/administration & dosage ; Propofol/administration & dosage ; Succinylcholine/*pharmacology