基于光学成像技术的针灸镇痛机理研究

Study of Acupuncture Analgesic Mechanism Based on Optical Imaging Technology

疼痛治疗是一个医学难题。虽然人们对痛觉感受机理的认识已达到细胞分子水平,但现代医学疗法对疼痛尤其是慢性疼痛的治疗仍无良策。针灸镇痛疗法因副作用小、疗效好而逐渐获得西方认可。尽管针灸镇痛在临床上得到了验证,但是其机理尚未明确。正电子发射断层扫描(PET)、单光子发射计算机断层扫描(SPECT)和功能核磁共振成像(fMRI)、免疫组织化学等技术已被应用于针灸镇痛机理的研究。然而,这些技术在分辨率或无损检测等方面存在局限性,限制了它们在针灸镇痛机理研究中的进一步应用。介绍了采用光学成像技术研究针灸镇痛的机理,其中重点评述激光扫描共聚焦显微成像术、光学相干层析成像术及活体动物光学成像术在针灸镇痛机理研究中的应用。

Pain remains challenge to treat, despite advances in cellular and molecular understanding of pain, Acupuncture analgesic has been accepted by west society due to low side effect and good performance. Although the effect of acupuncture analgesic has been confirmed clinically, its mechanism is still unclear. Positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging and immunohistochemistry have been applied in the study of the mechanism of acupuncture analgesic. However, poor resolution or invasion of these techniques limits their application in further study. It is suggested that optical imaging techniques, especially laser scanning confocal microscopy, optical coherent tomography and in vivo optical imaging system, could be utilized in the study of the mechanism of acupuncture analgesic.