The microcirculatory characteristics of the heart and lung meridians: Study protocol clinical trial (SPIRIT Compliant)

Hantong Hu, Yongliang Jiang, Xiaoyu Li, Jiali Lou, Yajun Zhang, Xiaofen He, Junfan Fang, Yuanyuan Wu, Xiaomei Shao, Jianqiao Fang, Hantong Hu, Yongliang Jiang, Xiaoyu Li, Jiali Lou, Yajun Zhang, Xiaofen He, Junfan Fang, Yuanyuan Wu, Xiaomei Shao, Jianqiao Fang

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the present study is to compare the microcirculatory difference of different meridians by using laser doppler flowmetry and investigate the specificity for the meridian-visceral association and site-to-site association between 2 specific meridians.

Methods and analysis: The Lung and Heart meridians are chosen as 2 specific studied meridians. 120 participants will be enrolled and divided into the healthy control group, chronic stable angina pectoris group and healthy intervention group. Laser doppler flowmetry will be used to assess the blood perfusion of the Heart and Lung meridians. The specificity for the meridian-visceral association will be investigated by comparing the microcirculatory difference between the Heart and Lung meridians in the healthy control group and chronic stable angina pectoris group. Besides, participants in the healthy intervention group will receive 2 sessions of moxibustion in the Heart meridian and Lung meridian, respectively, to explore the specificity for the site-to-site association on the body surface. Primary outcomes will be blood flow curve and blood perfusion units of relevant sites along the Heart and Lung meridians. Statistical analysis will be conducted by third party statisticians.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval (approval No: ZSLL-KY-2019-001A-01) has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. The study findings will be disseminated through presentation at peer-reviewed medical journals.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04244812.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study design flowchart. CSAP = chronic stable angina pectoris.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The LDF measurement sites of the healthy control group and CSAP group. CSAP = chronic stable angina pectoris, LDF = laser doppler flowmetry.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The intervention procedure of the healthy intervention group. (A) Moxibustion site of the Heart meridian and LDF measurement sites of the Heart and Lung meridians; (B) Moxibustion site of the Lung meridian and LDF measurement sites of the Heart and Lung meridians. CSAP = chronic stable angina pectoris, LDF = laser doppler flowmetry.

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