Investigation Of Neural Mechanisms Of 670 And 830nm Laser Acupuncture In Pain Relief, Using Rat
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$326,207.00
Summary
Background Chronic pain is common and costs $10 billion dollars per year in Australia. Drug therapies are widely used but serious side effects limit use. Patients actively seek non-drug treatments and laser acupuncture is one of the most commonly sought therapies for chronic pain, however, how it works is not well understood. Our previous work Researchers propose that laser acupuncture reduces pain by direct effects on nerves, altering how pain signals are transmitted to the brain. To investigat ....Background Chronic pain is common and costs $10 billion dollars per year in Australia. Drug therapies are widely used but serious side effects limit use. Patients actively seek non-drug treatments and laser acupuncture is one of the most commonly sought therapies for chronic pain, however, how it works is not well understood. Our previous work Researchers propose that laser acupuncture reduces pain by direct effects on nerves, altering how pain signals are transmitted to the brain. To investigate this we (CI A and CI B) previously undertook a study of infrared laser on nerve cell cultures. This followed on from a positive clinical study with the same laser wavelength in the treatment of neck pain, undertaken by CI B. We established that laser temporarily interrupts the nerve transport system, which is made up of a series of minute tubes, called microtubules. These act as a “monorail” system for transport of mitochondria, which provide energy for all nerve functions. We propose that temporary interruption of this system, called fast axonal transport, disrupts the conduction of pain signals along the nerve, resulting in pain relief. Important unanswered questions The mechanism by which 830nm laser acupuncture relieves pain clinically remains poorly understood. For its acceptance into mainstream clinical practice it is important to determine the effect of laser on the peripheral nerves and in particular the pain carrying fibres. We know from an earlier study that a single exposure causes significant but reversible changes in pain fibres including axonal microtubule disruption, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and block of fast axonal flow. These events would result in conduction failure. The question is whether the repeated irradiations, comparable to those delivered clinically result in the same changes. This would provide a scientific basis for understanding the clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture. We also do not know if 670nm laser acupuncture would act in the same way. There is evidence that this may be more effective so that this remains another important unanswered question. Further, there is no evidence regarding which wavelength would be cost and time effective as it is desirable to deliver lower dose. We need to determine the most effective dose and wavelength so that clinical trials could be carried out as was done for the trials by CIB (Chow and Barnsley, 2006).Read moreRead less
Acupuncture And Mucosal Immunity In The Upper Respiratory Tract
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$383,082.00
Summary
Many Australians seek complementary and alternate medicine for the treatment of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis. There is evidence that acupuncture treatment is clinically beneficial for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. This project will produce new information that will provide a scientific basis of how acupuncture influences the immune response and modulates inflammation. Broader application to other inflammatory diseases and therapeutic interventions is possible.
Randomised Sham-controlled Trial Of Acupuncture For Post-menopausal Hot Flushes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,828.00
Summary
This clinical trial will test whether needle acupuncture is more effective than a sham needle control acupuncture in relieving post-menopausal women's hot flush symptoms.
Acupause: A Randomised Single-blind Sham-controlled Trial Of Acupuncture For Postmenopausal Vasomotor Symptoms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$129,182.00
Summary
I am a general practitioner with both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Acupuncture qualifications. My research focuses on acupuncture's effectiveness in treating hot flushes after the menopause. In my study 360 women with hot flushes will be divided into two groups with one group receiving acupuncture and another group receiving "placebo" or "sham" acupuncture. We will compare number and severity of hot flushes in both groups at the end of the treatment period.
Developing A Novel Glaucoma Surgery For Clinical Use And Commercialisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$565,893.00
Summary
Glaucoma is a potentially blinding eye condition that affects more than 60 million people. The greatest risk factor in glaucoma is high intraocular pressure. Surgical treatment for glaucoma seeks to lower the pressure inside the eye by increasing the drainage of fluid from the eye. There are numerous techniques available but all have risks of complications. This grant seeks to develop a novel approach to the problem using intra-ocular delivery of laser pulses to cut a drainage channel.
Randomised Controlled Trials Of Acupuncture Vs. Pharmacotherapy For Acute Pain Relief In Emergency Departments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,300.00
Summary
The proposed study involves three separate randomised controlled trials comparing acupuncture alone and acupuncture along with drug therapy, to drug therapy alone in providing pain relief for patients presenting to the Northern Hospital and Epworth Hospital Emergency Departments with acute back pain, migraine and ankle sprain. The research will help determine if acupuncture is safe, effective and acceptable to patients.
Developing A New Glaucoma Surgery Using Precision Ablation Of The Trabecular Meshwork And Inner Wall Of Schlemm’s Canal
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,606.00
Summary
Glaucoma is a major sight threatening disease in our community, affecting an estimated 60 million people worldwide. This project investigates a new laser based method for reducing intraocular pressure, the major risk factor in glaucoma. The novel approach is to create a selectable number of drainage channels for excess fluid in the eye to drain away, thereby restoring normal intraocular pressure.