Hypothetical experiments were done to examine various problems in the acupuncture research. Statistically significant suppressive effects of electroacupuncture (vs. control group) were demonstrated. A simple paper was made based on the hypothetical experimentation, and the insufficient descriptions, lack of experimental designs, errors in statistical methods were pointed out, then several comments were added. Several problems included in the multi-sample experimental designs and their statistical analysis in the acupuncture research were also discussed.

Effects of moxibustion on the jaw-opening reflex (JOR) were examined in lightly anesthetized rats. The evoked EMGs of digastric muscle elicited by tooth pulp stimulation were clearly suppressed for 2-3min by the moxibustion applied to the hair-removed skin. The suppressive effects of moxibustion on the JOR indicated some regional differences. The most effective region was the contralateral fore-arm, and a slightly less effective regions were the ipsilateral face, ipsilateral fore-arm and contralateral hind-leg. The difference of the effectiveness on JOR suppression between the acupuncture point and non-acupuncture point was not apparent.
These results suggest that the polymodal receptor, which is undoubtly activated by moxibustion, participates in the peripheral process of the induction of analgesic effect.

In the acupuncture clinic the method of selecting treatment points by measuring the electrical resistance of the skin has been widely used. It has become known that depending on the measuring period and the loaded voltage, the low resistance points of the skin are easily created, thus there remain many problems of the methods for measuring the skin resistance.
The present study was performed on the forearm skin of human subjects. For the measuring electrode an Ag-AgCl wire electrode with a diameter of 0.5mm was used. The electrode was fixed up to a FD-pick up (Nihon Kohden) and monitoring the pressure applied to the skin. A metal rod wrapped in a piece of gauze soaked with saline solution was used as the indifferent electrode. The skin resistance was calculated by measuring the current pass the both electrodes with a fixed resistance (10KΩ) Placed in series in the circuit when a square pulse (10msec, 4V) was appqied to the skin.
By used of the spuare pulse the low resistance points of the skin are stably detected when they are measured repeatedly. On the other hand, by of -DC 10 Volt, tce low resistance points gradually increase in number and lowering the resistance value by repeated measurerents. The sweat glands and hair follicle also show the low resistance value.
In conclusion, we could not distinguish the “true” low resistance points from sweat gland and other resistance destroyed points by measuring current clearly. But the square pulse method for measuring the skin resistance is useful to detect the low resistance point.

The nature of an experimental trigger point model produced by eccentric exercise was examined in seven healthy volunteers who gave their informed consent. Adjustable loads were set around the third finger and the subjects were asked to keep the position as long as possible. The loadings (about 10s) were continued until his all-out effort and were carried out 3 times interspersed with 5 min rest periods. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and deep pain thresholds (DPT) before exercise, and on the 2nd and 7th day after the exercise, were measured in the skin, fascia and muscles. On the 2nd day after the exercise, the PPT of the restricted area of the taut band was the minimum. A similar reduction of the DPT was observed only in the fascia of the restricted area. These results suggest that the present experimental model is useful for the further investigation of trigger points.

Electrical activities detected from the experimentally-induced trigger points in human subjects.
Objectives : To examine the pathogenic mechanisms of the trigger points, electrical activities were recorded from the experimentally-induced trigger points.
Methods : Nine healthy volunteers who gave informed consent were used. The adjustable loads were set around the third finger and repetitive eccentric contraction was loaded on the extensor digital muscles. The subjects were asked to keep the position as long as possible. The loadings (about 10s) were continued until his all-out effort and were repeated 3 times with 5 min resting periods. The electrical activities in the skin, fascia and muscle of the trigger point and non-tender region of palpable band and 10mm outside the band were recorded on the second day after the eccentric exercise.
Results : Repetitive eccentric exercise produced a trigger point within the palpable band, which developed on the second day after the exercise. Electrical activities were detected only when the electrode tip was located in or near the fascia of the trigger point and there were subjective dull pain sensations. When the radial nerve was blocked by lidocaine, the needle EMG activity could not be recorded.
Conclusions : These results suggest that the EMG activities are the result of nociceptive reflex, and the sensitized nociceptors in the fascia of the palpable band might be a substrate for the trigger point.