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PubMed1980

Computerized meridian perimetry. A preliminary report.

By a modification of the display of test points it is possible to use the computerized perimeter "Competer" for meridian testing. The test program gives estimates of the thresholds in two separate rounds, the second starting when the first is completed. Accordingly two profiles are plotted in the meridians tested. Furthermore a smoothed profile is drawn from the mean values of the two rounds. The outcome when testing normal subjects and cases with glaucomatous defects was studied and the stability of thresholds in normals and the decay in scotomatous areas with time is demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1970

Changes in pattern-evoked responses in man associated with the vertical and horizontal meridians of the visual field.

1. Averaged responses have been recorded from an array of ten scalp electrodes over the occipital cortex in man to the reversal of a black-and-white checkerboard pattern, presented in different octants of the visual field.2. In all subjects a prominent wave was seen, with a peak latency of about 100 msec, which showed consistent and systematic changes with variation in the position of the stimulus in the visual field.3. With stimulation of the octants next to the vertical meridian, this component was of large amplitude, while with stimulation of the octants next to the horizontal meridian, it was small and inconspicuous.4. With upper field octants, the peak at 100 msec was surface-negative, while with lower field octants it was reversed in polarity.5. The occipital response was largest 5 or 7.5 cm above the inion, and the amplitude recorded 3 cm lateral to the mid line was larger over the hemisphere contralateral to the half field being stimulated than ipsilaterally.6. These findings are discussed in relation to the underlying anatomy of the visual cortex, and it is concluded that these responses are likely to arise mainly from extra-striate areas.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Comparative performance of herpes simplex virus type 2-specific serologic assays from Meridian Diagnostics and MRL diagnostics.

MRL Diagnostics and Meridian Diagnostics have recently designed herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)-specific enzyme immunoassays for HSV-2 antibody detection. Blood donor sera were assayed for HSV-2 antibodies by both methods. The sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency were 97.9, 95.4, and 95.9% for the MRL assay and 83.2, 98.2, and 95.5% for the Meridian assay, respectively.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed2002

Comparative performance of herpes simplex virus type 1-specific serologic assays from MRL and Meridian Diagnostics.

Two companies, MRL and Meridian Diagnostics, have developed Food and Drug Administration-approved herpes simplex virus type 1 type-specific enzyme immunoassays. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall testing efficiency of these assays were 98.2, 93.8, and 96.6% for MRL and 98.8, 99.0, and 98.1% for Meridian, making both of these kits suitable for use in the clinical lab.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1983

Further investigation on the hypothesis of meridian-cortex-viscera interrelationship.

The hypothesis of Meridian-Cortex-Viscera Interrelationship maintains: 1. Meridian channel system is an independent system connected with the nerves to the cortex; 2. It acts through the nerves; 3. The nervous action is realized by humoral agents. This article gives preliminary-experimental supports for the above criteria.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1997

Homonymous quadrantanopia respecting the horizontal meridian. A feature of striate and extrastriate cortical disease.

It has been proposed that homonymous quadrantanopic visual field loss that respects the horizontal meridian is a pathognomonic sign of extrastriate cortical disease. However, two patients with this sign are reported--one with a rare striate and the other with an extrastriatal lesion of the visual cortex. It is therefore hypothesized that a homonymous quadrantanopia respecting the horizontal meridian may indicate striate and/or extrastriate cortical disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

An examination of the relationship between five oriental musical tones and corresponding internal organs and meridians.

The Yellow Emperor's Internal Medicine (Nei-Jing) describes the relationship between five internal organs corresponding to five different meridians and five oriental musical tones such as Gung (spleen), Sang (liver), Gak (liver), Chi (heart), Wu (kidney). However, there has been little research to test this relationship. The purpose of this study was to determine this relationship through applying sound stimulation for 60 seconds, comprising various frequencies produced on an electric organ(Gung: 261.6 Hz; Sang: 293.7 Hz; Gak: 329.6 Hz Chi: 392.0 Hz and Wu: 440.0 Hz), to 20 healthy adults by stimulating their ears (via headphones), skin (via speakers) and both. A significant relationship was found between the tones and the meridians as they are described in Nei-Jing. The greatest response rates were found in the following corresponding organic and musical tones: spleen/Gung, lung/Sang, liver/Gak, heart/Chi, and kidney/Wu. The traditional descriptions of Yellow Emperor's Nei-Jing are therefore consistent with the findings of this study. Further basic research may lead to the application of clinically appropriate tones in an acoustically suitable room following oriental medical diagnosis.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1989

Unique changes found on the Qi Gong (Chi Gong) Master's and patient's body during Qi Gong treatment; their relationships to certain meridians & acupuncture points and the re-creation of therapeutic Qi Gong states by children & adults.

Changes taking place in both Qi Gong Masters and their patients during Qi Gong treatment were evaluated using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test. During the Qi Gong state, on the Qi-Gong Master's body, as well as the body of the patient being treated, acupuncture points CV5 (Shi Men) and CV6 (Qi Hai)-- located below the umbilicus-- show changes from +4 in the pre-Qi Gong state to between -3 and -4 during the Qi Gong state. Before and after the Qi Gong, there is a normal +4 response to the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test at these acupuncture points. Similar changes were also observed on acupuncture points CV17 (Shan Zhong), CV 22 (Tian Tu), Yin Tang (at an area just between the eyebrows: the pituitary gland representation area, colloquially known as the "third eye") and GV20(Bai Hui), the entire pericardium meridian & triple burner meridian, their acupuncture points, the adrenal glands, testes, ovaries and perineum, as well as along the entire spinal vertebrae, particularly on and above the 12th thoracic vertebra, medulla oblongata, pons, and the intestinal representation areas of the brain located just above and behind the upper ear. Using these findings as criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of reaching the Qi Gong state, we were able to reproduce during the experimental trials similar changes in ourselves and the patient being treated with therapeutic effects comparable to those of the Qi Gong Master. Beneficial effects of external Qi Gong treatment given by a Qi Gong practitioner 1 to 3 times for 10-20 seconds each (although most Qi Gong masters take 3-20 minutes per treatment) often resulted in improvement of circulation and lowering of high blood pressure, as well as relaxation of spastic muscles, relief of pain, and enhanced general well-being, all of which resemble acupuncture effects. In order to reproduce the same procedure with others, we selected 4 children ranging between 8 and 11 years of age who had no knowledge of Qi Gong or Oriental medicine. One of these four children, the 8 year old, was able to consistently reach the same Qi Gong state after less than a half day and another child, 11, after less than 2 days. Within a week, the other two were sometimes able to reproduce the Qi Gong state but not always. Using the Qi Gong state thus obtained, it was found that this type of Qi Gong energy is directed to specific directions from the hand and can even penetrate wooden or metal doors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1997

Silk scrolls: earliest literature of meridian doctrine in ancient China.

Among the historic relics unearthed from Han Tomb No. 3 at Mawangdui, Changsha, China during 1972-1974, there were two Silk Scrolls related to the acupuncture meridian circulation and its pathologic symptoms. The description was simpler than that in the chapter "On Channels", in the Lin Shu (Miraculous Pivot). Only eleven channels were recorded, with the Pericardium channel left out, but the distribution of the Arm Shaoyin Channel connects to the passageway of the Pericardium channel. In the Silk Scrolls, all the directions of the eleven channels are concentric, there are no connections with each other, and there are fewer pertaining and communicating organs. It is suggested that these Silk Scrolls present a specific meridian theory that predates the Nei Ching (Canon of Medicine).

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed2002

Vertical meridian asymmetry in spatial resolution: visual and attentional factors.

We investigated whether spatial resolution would be the same in the lower and upper halves of the vertical meridian (VM) of our visual field and whether attention would affect them differentially. It has been reported that (1) attending to the target's location improves performance in a texture segregation task when the observer's spatial resolution is too low (peripheral locations) but impairs it when resolution is already too high (central locations) for the task. This finding indicates an enhanced spatial resolution at the attended location (Yeshurun & Carrasco, 1998,2000), (2) observers' contrast sensitivity is higher in the lower than in the upper VM, a phenomenon known as vertical meridian asymmetry (VMA), an asymmetry determined by visual rather than by attentional factors (Carrasco, Talgar, & Cameron, 2001). In the present texture segregation task, performance was assessed under neutral- and peripheral-cue conditions. Transient covert attention was systematically manipulated by using a peripheral cue that indicated the target's location and its onset. Observers reported the interval containing a target patch appearing at one of a number of eccentricities in a large texture pattern along the VM. We found that (1) performance peaked at farther eccentricities in the lower than in the upper visual VM, indicating that resolution was higher in the lower half, and (2) the peripheral cue affected performance along the VM uniformly, indicating that the degree of enhanced resolution brought about by transient attention was constant along the VM. Thus, we conclude that the VMA for spatial resolution is determined by visual, not transient covert attentional, constraints.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The comparison of changes of the facial temperature after acupuncturing point of hand and foot-yangming meridians by the thermography].

With thermographic technique, We observed changes of the facial temperature after acupuncturing Hegu (L14) and Zusanli (S36) in 65 patients (103 cases in all) with facial nerve paralysis. The observation showed that the average of Hegu group was higher than that of Zusanli group. The result explained that the effect of acupuncture at points of hand-yangming meridian was bigger than that of foot-yangming meridian on the facial temperature.

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed1985

Density profile of blue-sensitive cones along the horizontal meridian of macaque retina.

Intravitreal injection of some fluorescent and nonfluorescent tissue-reactive dyes results in selective intracellular staining of a specific population of cones of macaque retina that have been identified tentatively as blue-sensitive cones. This paper describes quantitative density profiles of these cones as a function of retinal eccentricity. These profiles were measured from 0 deg to about 60 deg eccentricity along the nasal and temporal segments of the horizontal meridian of macaque retina. Stained cones were found to be absent from the very center of the fovea. These cones reach peak densities at 0.75-1.50 deg eccentricity, and decrease with greater eccentricity, more rapidly on the temporal than on the nasal segment of the horizontal meridian. Peak densities were found to be slightly closer to the foveal center of the retinas of adult male than of adult female macaques. Packing patterns of stained and unstained cones are discussed as is the mathematic expression of stained cone distribution. The spatial properties of the retinal distribution of stained cones agree very closely with those obtained in psychophysical human studies and other anatomic simian studies of blue-sensitive cones.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Acupuncture meridians demythified. Contribution of radiotracer methodology].

Radioactive trajectories can be visualized by injecting a radioactive tracer, technetium 99 m, at the site of acupuncture points. To determine the exact nature of these trajectories we performed several experiments on healthy volunteers, and our results may be summarized as follows. The target organs of technetium 99 m, and notably the thyroid gland, were always visualized. The circulating radioactivity, visible on scintiscans and confirmed by venous blood counts, was not negligible. The radioactive trajectories we observed were often divided at their starting point and did not extend along the whole length of the acupuncture meridians they might have made visible. The radioactive trajectories disappeared after venous blockade to reappear when the blockade was lifted. Finally, the radioactive trajectories obtained were very similar after injection at the acupuncture point and at a control point. These findings indicate a lymphatic and venous drainage of the radioactive tracer at the site of injection followed by transportation through the veins, rather than visualization of acupuncture meridians as suggested by some authors.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed2004

A birdcage model for the Chinese Meridian System: part I. A channel as a transmission line.

The concept of Qi and the concept of channel are so closely related that they must be defined and comprehended simultaneously in a coordinated fashion. Once the nature of Qi is established in terms of physics, we may be able to explain the functional role that the channels play, as well as explain other Chinese medical terminology with a language of modem science. Based on the low electrical impedance characteristics of acupoints, we propose that the meridian channel is equivalent to an electromagnetic transmission line and the Qi is the electromagnetic (EM) standing wave riding on the line, with acupoints as its nodes. The standing wave within each segment of the channel separated by acupoints is in natural oscillation thus the segment may be analyzed as a lambda/4 open circuit that behaves like a series RLC resonator. Acupuncture until De Qi is effectively equivalent to charging the capacitor Ceq of the RLC resonator in the transmission line. The mechanism of bu and xie are charging or discharging the capacitor to bring the capacititive (or inductive) behavior of the segment back to that of the resonant state. Kirlian photograph may serve as a visual observation of the EM waves on channels.

Acupuncture↗
PubMed1994

Experimental evidence of a plant meridian system: III. The sound characteristics of phylodendron (Alocasia) and effects of acupuncture on those properties.

Studies on the sound characteristics of phylodendron performed by measuring the power of plant leaves with a laser beam found that the leaves of phylodendron could produce sound waves at relatively low frequencies (from 50 Hz to 120 Hz). Furthermore, it was found that those leaves could accept external sound wave stimulations, with frequencies lower than 150 Hz giving the strongest responses. When the plants were under stress, such as drought, the sound emissions from the plant's leaves increased approximately 20-30 dB, while the range of response to external sound wave stimulation decreased 10-20 dB. However, these increased emissions returned to normal six minutes after watering. When the stainless steel needles were inserted into the petiole of the plant, spontaneous sound production was increased about 40 dB for the main vein and 6 dB for the mesophyll. This is our third report on experimental evidence that plants might have a meridian system as in humans and other animals.

Acoustics↗
PubMed1997

Experimental evidence of a plant meridian system: IV. The effects of acupuncture on growth and metabolism of Phaseolus vulgaris L. beans.

We have shown previously that plants exhibit functional characteristics similar to the meridian system in humans and animals, such as high potential and low electrical resistance, high temperature, and spontaneous sound production. Here we will show the effect of acupuncture on plants. When plants of Phaseolus vulgaris L. pole bean (cv. Kentucky wonder) and bush bean (cv. Slenderette) were subjected to acupuncture by inserting two needles into opposite sides of the stem of the unifoliolate buds, it was found that acupuncture strengthened the growth and development of the plants. Two repeated experiments showed that the mean net photosynthesis rate of plants subjected to acupuncture increased about 20.5%, the mean transpiration 27.2%, the growth and total length of internodes 22.5%, and the total dry weight of shoots from the cotyledon to the apex 22.9%, in comparisons with control plants under the same growing conditions. In addition, treated plants flowered three days earlier and had 14.4% more fruit than the untreated control plants. Thus, acupuncture may serve as a viable technique for increasing yield in agricultural plants.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1999

Applied studies of plant meridian system: I. The effect of agri-wave technology on yield and quality of tomato.

Agri-wave technology is a new agricultural technology based on the plant meridian system, that focuses on measurement of plant sound characteristics. The basic principle of agri-wave technology is to improve the yield and quality of plants such as vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees by broadcasting sound waves of certain frequencies and spraying a compound microelement fertilizer on the leaves. The application of agri-wave technology on tomatoes remarkably stimulates growth of their seedlings. Fresh weight of the branch, stems, and leaves of the treated tomatoes is significantly (59.53%, P < 0.0001) higher than that of the control group. Sampling survey results indicate that agri-wave technology accelerates the ripeness of tomatoes. The fresh weight of ripe tomatoes treated with this technique is 30.73% higher than that of the untreated (P = 0.0018), while the fresh weight of the treated unripe tomatoes is 27.29% lower than that of the untreated unripe group (P = 0.0020). Yield surveys show that the yield of treated plants is 13.89% (p < 0.0001) higher than that of the control group. Moreover, with agri-wave technology treatment the storage period of tomatoes is almost doubled. Analysis of tomato nutrition shows that agri-wave technology has increased their sugar content by 26.19%, vitamin A and niacin (an antifavours vitamin) by 55.39% and 92.31% respectively. There is no difference concerning vitamin B1, B2, and D content between the two groups, and vitamin C and E contents decreased by 2.10% and 12.69%, respectively. Among the analyzed 33 minerals of tomatoes, 26 increased in content, while 7 decreased. In conclusion, agri-wave technology has promoted the growth of the tomato, increased its yield, and improved its quality.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1997

Increased pain threshold following electroacupuncture: analgesia is induced mainly in meridian acupuncture points.

UNLABELLED: Pain thresholds were determined before and after electroacupuncture of the dorsal aspect acupuncture points (AP) of the hand and non acupuncture points (NAP) located 15 mm from the traditional acupuncture points to assess changes in pain threshold thus provoked. METHODS: In eight volunteers the pain threshold of specific points was determined before and after acupuncture in the Hegu point (L.I. 4), at the back of the hand. A pressure dolorimeter was used to evaluate pain threshold at the Yangxi (L.I. 5) and Quchi (L.I. 11) points and at sites 15 mm from them. The effects on pain threshold were also measured at Yingxiang (L.I. 20) on both sides. RESULTS: Before electrostimulation there were no significant differences among the pain thresholds in both AP and NAP. After electrostimulation of the Yangxi point, pain threshold raised from 5.20 kg/sq.cm to 9.20 kg/sq.cm (p < 0.01); acupuncture at Quchi caused the threshold to increase from 5.36 kg/sq.cm to 9.20 kg/sq.cm (p < 0.01) and Yingxiang stimulation changed threshold from 2.63 kg/sq.cm to 3.83 kg/sq.cm (p < 0.051) at the point on the same side and from 2.26 kg/sq.cm to 3.90 kg/sq.cm (p < 0.05) in the opposite side. Before electroacupuncture the pain thresholds at all the tested sites were not statistically different (p > 0.1). After electrostimulation the pain threshold increased 77% at L.I. 5 but went up just 9% and 6% 15 mm from L.I. 5 (p < 0.01); threshold increased by 70% at L.I. 11 but only by 6% and 7% (p < 0.01) 15 mm from L.I. 11. CONCLUSIONS: The pain threshold increased significantly in all tested sites after electroacupuncture but the analgesic effect was predominant in those points lying along the acupuncture meridians.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗