Color Doppler imaging (CDI) can be used to noninvasively create images of human blood vessels and quantitatively evaluate blood\r\nflow in real-time. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of acupuncture on the blood flow of the peripheral, mesenteric,\r\nand retrobulbar arteries by CDI. Statistical significance was defined as P values less than 0.05. Blood flow in the radial and brachial\r\narteries was significantly lower during needle stimulation on LR3 than before in healthy volunteers, but was significantly higher\r\nafter needle stimulation than before. LR3 stimulation also resulted in a significant decrease in the vascular resistance of the short\r\nposterior ciliary artery and no significant change of blood flow through the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) during acupuncture.\r\nIn contrast, ST36 stimulation resulted in a significant increase in blood flow through the SMA and no significant change in the\r\nvascular resistance of the retrobulbar arteries. Additionally, acupuncture at previously determined acupoints in patients with openangle\r\nglaucoma led to a significant reduction in the vascular resistance of the central retinal artery and short posterior ciliary artery.\r\nOur results suggest that acupuncture can affect blood flow of the peripheral, mesenteric, and retrobulbar arteries, and CDI can be\r\nuseful to evaluate hemodynamic changes by acupuncture.
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