针刺效应的脑功能磁共振成像研究进展

就近5年来国内外针刺领域利用功能磁共振成像(fMRI)技术所做的研究作了回顾,将包含平行对照的实验研究纳入,综述了利用脑fMRI技术进行针刺作用机制研究的内容,总结了目前各类研究存在的问题及可借鉴之处。当前利用fMRI技术进行的针刺作用机制研究主要包括穴位特异性、针刺疗效机制、针刺个体差异性及针刺持续效应几个方面,早期的研究多关注针刺的即时效应,从即时效应角度证明穴位的特异性,阐明针刺疗效机制。随着针刺持续性效应的提出,更加契合临床的新研究模式被提出。如何在契合临床实际的同时保证研究结果的稳定性是今后需要注意的问题。

An overview of researches on underlying mechanisms of acupuncture therapy by functional magnetic resonance imaging in recent 5 years

In the present paper, the authors review the development of researches on acupuncture therapy with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in recent 5 years in both China and foreign countries. The current researches mainly involve 1) specificity of efficacies of acupoints, 2) mechanisms of acupuncture intervention underlying improvement of various clinical conditions or illnesses, 3) individual difference of the subjects, and 4) sustained efficacies of acupuncture. In the early stage, researches on acupuncture therapy mostly focus on the immediate efficacy and the specificity of efficacies of acupoints. Along with the actuality of sustained effect of acupuncture, new test design paradigms agreeable with clinical practice are necessary in the future. In addition, more attentions about the stability of the tested results should be paid.