scholarly journals Acupuncture Effects on Cerebral Blood Flow during Normoxia and Normobaric Hypoxia: Results from a Prospective Crossover Pilot Study

Technologies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
Oriana Pecchio ◽  
Massimo Martinelli ◽  
Giuseppe Lupi ◽  
Guido Giardini ◽  
Laura Caligiana ◽  
...  

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is significantly influenced by exposure to hypoxia, both hypobaric and normobaric. Alterations in cerebral blood flow can play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and its symptoms, especially headache, dizziness, and nausea. Acupuncture has been proven to be effective in treating some cerebrovascular disorders and PC6 Nei Guan stimulation seems to enhance cerebral blood flow. Therefore, we have hypothesized that PC6 Nei Guan stimulation could affect CBF in acute hypoxia and could be used to contrast AMS symptoms. We evaluated blood flow in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in normoxia, after 15 min in normobaric hypoxia (fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) 14%, corresponding to 3600 m a.s.l.) in basal conditions, and after PC6 Nei Guan stimulation, both by needle and by pressure. No comparisons with other acupuncture points and sham acupuncture were done. PC6 stimulation seemed to counteract the effects of acute normobaric hypoxia on end-diastolic velocity (EDV) in MCA, especially after acupuncture, and significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A rebalance of CBF could control some AMS symptoms, but further studies are necessary.

2008 ◽  
Vol 160 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward A.W. Dyer ◽  
Susan R. Hopkins ◽  
Joanna E. Perthen ◽  
Richard B. Buxton ◽  
David J. Dubowitz

2009 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 244-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Dubowitz ◽  
Edward A. W. Dyer ◽  
Rebecca J. Theilmann ◽  
Richard B. Buxton ◽  
Susan R. Hopkins

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high-altitude cerebral edema share common clinical characteristics, suggesting cerebral swelling may be an important factor in the pathophysiology of AMS. Hypoxia and hypocapnia associated with high altitude are known to exert strong effects on the control of the cerebral circulation, yet how these effects interact during acute hypoxia, and whether AMS-susceptible subjects may have a unique response, is still unclear. To test if self-identified AMS-susceptible individuals show altered brain swelling in response to acute hypoxia, we used quantitative arterial spin-labeling and volumetric MRI to measure cerebral blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume changes during 40 min of acute hypoxia. We estimated changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) (from changes in cerebral blood flow) and brain parenchyma swelling (from changes in CBV and CSF). Subjects with extensive high-altitude experience in two groups participated: self-identified AMS-susceptible ( n = 6), who invariably experienced AMS at altitude, and self-identified AMS-resistant ( n = 6), who almost never experienced symptoms. During 40-min hypoxia, intracranial CSF volume decreased significantly [−10.5 ml (SD 6.9), P < 0.001]. There were significant increases in CBV [+2.3 ml (SD 2.5), P < 0.005] and brain parenchyma volume [+8.2 ml (SD 6.4), P < 0.001]. However, there was no significant difference between self-identified AMS-susceptible and AMS-resistant groups for these acute-phase changes. In acute hypoxia, brain swelling occurs earlier than previously described, with significant shifts in intracranial CSF occurring as early as 40 min after exposure. These acute-phase changes are present in all individuals, irrespective of susceptibility to AMS.


1986 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 2136-2143 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Curran-Everett ◽  
K. McAndrews ◽  
J. A. Krasney

The effects of acute hypoxia on regional pulmonary perfusion have been studied previously in anesthetized, artificially ventilated sheep (J. Appl. Physiol. 56: 338–342, 1984). That study indicated that a rise in pulmonary arterial pressure was associated with a shift of pulmonary blood flow toward dorsal (nondependent) areas of the lung. This study examined the relationship between the pulmonary arterial pressor response and regional pulmonary blood flow in five conscious, standing ewes during 96 h of normobaric hypoxia. The sheep were made hypoxic by N2 dilution in an environmental chamber [arterial O2 tension (PaO2) = 37–42 Torr, arterial CO2 tension (PaCO2) = 25–30 Torr]. Regional pulmonary blood flow was calculated by injecting 15-micron radiolabeled microspheres into the superior vena cava during normoxia and at 24-h intervals of hypoxia. Pulmonary arterial pressure increased from 12 Torr during normoxia to 19–22 Torr throughout hypoxia (alpha less than 0.049). Pulmonary blood flow, expressed as %QCO or ml X min-1 X g-1, did not shift among dorsal and ventral regions during hypoxia (alpha greater than 0.25); nor were there interlobar shifts of blood flow (alpha greater than 0.10). These data suggest that conscious, standing sheep do not demonstrate a shift in pulmonary blood flow during 96 h of normobaric hypoxia even though pulmonary arterial pressure rises 7–10 Torr. We question whether global hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is, by itself, beneficial to the sheep.


1989 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
S M Otis ◽  
M E Rossman ◽  
P A Schneider ◽  
M P Rush ◽  
E B Ringelstein

2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (9) ◽  
pp. 1189-1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nia C. S. Lewis ◽  
Laura Messinger ◽  
Brad Monteleone ◽  
Philip N. Ainslie

We examined 1) whether global cerebral blood flow (CBF) would increase across a 6-h bout of normobaric poikilocapnic hypoxia and be mediated by a larger increase in blood flow in the vertebral artery (VA) than in the internal carotid artery (ICA); and 2) whether additional increases in global CBF would be evident following an α1-adrenergic blockade via further dilation of the ICA and VA. In 11 young normotensive individuals, ultrasound measures of ICA and VA flow were obtained in normoxia (baseline) and following 60, 210, and 330 min of hypoxia (FiO2 = 0.11). Ninety minutes prior to final assessment, participants received an α1-adrenoreceptor blocker (prazosin, 1 mg/20 kg body mass) or placebo. Compared with baseline, following 60, 220, and 330 min of hypoxia, global CBF [(ICAFlow + VAFlow) ∗ 2] increased by 160 ± 52 ml/min (+28%; P = 0.05), 134 ± 23 ml/min (+23%; P = 0.02), and 113 ± 51 (+19%; P = 0.27), respectively. Compared with baseline, ICAFlow increased by 23% following 60 min of hypoxia ( P = 0.06), after which it progressively declined. The percentage increase in VA flow was consistently larger than ICA flow during hypoxia by ∼20% ( P = 0.002). Compared with baseline, ICA and VA diameters increased during hypoxia by ∼9% and ∼12%, respectively ( P ≤ 0.05), and were correlated with reductions in SaO2. Flow and diameters were unaltered following α1 blockade ( P ≥ 0.10). In conclusion, elevations in global CBF during acute hypoxia are partly mediated via greater increases in VA flow compared with ICA flow; this regional difference was unaltered following α1 blockade, indicating that a heightened sympathetic nerve activity with hypoxia does not constrain further dilation of larger extracranial blood vessels.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Hyun Ku Lee ◽  
Sang-Kwan Moon ◽  
Chul Jin ◽  
Seung-Yeon Cho ◽  
Seong-Uk Park ◽  
...  

The Governing Vessel 14 (GV14) (Dazhui) is one of the acupuncture points referred to as “seven acupoints for stroke.” Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research on the effects of acupuncture treatment at GV14. This study investigated the effects of acupuncture at GV14 on cerebral blood flow (CBF), especially that in the basilar artery (BA) and the middle cerebral arteries (MCA). Sixteen healthy men aged 20 to 29 years were enrolled in this study. CBF velocity and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) were measured using transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD). The following were assessed: closed circuit rebreathing- (CCR-) induced carbon dioxide (CO2) reactivity, modified blood flow velocity at 40 mmHg (CV40) on BA and MCAs, blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Observed results were obtained after comparison with the baseline evaluation. Statistically significant elevations in CO2 reactivity were recorded in the BA (3.28 to 4.70, p < 0.001 ) and MCAs (right: 3.81 to 5.25, p = 0.001 ; left: 3.84 to 5.12, p = 0.005 ) after acupuncture at GV14. The CV40 increased statistically significantly only in the BA (45.49 to 50.41, p = 0.003 ). No change was observed in BP (106.83 to 107.08 (mmHg), p = 0.335 ) and HR (77 to 75 (bpm), p = 0.431 ). Acupuncture at GV14 improved CBF velocity. These results could be explained by the regulation of endothelium-dependent vessel dilation effected by acupuncture. This trial is registered with Korean Clinical Trial Registry (http://cris.nih.go.kr; registration number: KCT0004787).


1988 ◽  
Vol 74 (s18) ◽  
pp. 1P-1P ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wright ◽  
AR Bradwell ◽  
J Jensen ◽  
N Lassen

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