[[alternative]]A Study of Assisting Chinese medicine diagnosis

[[abstract]] 良導絡系統已成為近年來台灣中醫學界常用的經脈診斷輔助儀器。經絡能量檢測儀(Meridian Electroacupuncture Analysis Device; MEAD)是其中最常使用的一種。此儀器有操作簡單，測量迅速。但缺點是對基本的穩定度分析存疑，以及測量結果與中醫症狀無一致的聯結解釋。因此本實驗以橫斷式(cross-sectional)研究來進行，在嘉義大林慈濟醫院中醫科自然醫學實驗室實施，共徵召39位受測者經熟練的MEAD操作者測量24處經穴測量點，以間隔五分鐘的方式進行三次重複檢測。利用皮耳森相關係數的再測法(Pearson correlation Coefficients, Retest Method)，和走勢分析法進行分析，用以計算出在不同的受測者三次測量下儀器的穩定度。 經Pearson相關係數再測法分析的結果是左右經脈平均相關係數為0.87，而走勢分析法之平均走勢符合率為80.7%，可見MEAD之測量結果已有高度的再現性。實驗也發現測量結果會隨時間的增加而差異變大(Pearson 相關係數由第一次與第二次測量的相關度0.893降至第一次與第三次測量的相關度0.833)，而在五分鐘內的測量則差異不大(第一次與第二次相關度0.893，第二次與第三次相關度0.886)，所以推論儀器測量在五分鐘內相關度很高，五分鐘以上則相關度開始減低，但雖如此其前後檢驗之相關度仍是很高。由此項測試我們發現每個人的經脈性質皆有一種固定的模式(pattern)存在，若在進行治療或刺激時改變了人體經脈的模式，使其前後對照的一致性起了變動，則治療常是很顯著。在針對左右、陰陽臟腑、手足上下經脈進一步分析其一致性時，我們發現無任何差異(p>0.05),這顯示良導絡儀器測量時短時間內上述因素無明顯影響。 本研究另以Visual Basic 2005開發了符合醫師所需的圖表輸出程式，確以達到將五輸穴自動化圖表分析之目標，雖在功能面上僅有圖表輸出功能，不過相對於醫生以往利用手動複製資料至Excel再以人工繪製圖表已經節省不少人力與時間。[[abstract]] It is popular for using Meridian Electroacupuncture Analysis Device (MEAD) to measure the human skin conductance. We can use these values to evaluate the constitutional state of human body. MEAD is an easy learning, quick reactive machine. Few papers mention about its reliability. So we conduct a cross-sectional study by analysing the three times continuous measurement on 39 normal populations. Here we use Pearson correlation coefficients and tendency analysis method. This study is carried out at a general practice, the Buddist Tzuchi General Dalin Hospital, Department of Chinese Medicine, natural medicine lab in Chiayi. There are three results:1.The reliability of MEAD is 0.87(Pearson correlation coefficients), and tendency analysis is 80.7%. The values of skin conductance in three times continuity measuring showed highly correlation and tendency.2.The Pearson correlation coefficients is significant differences (p0.05) between first measurement and second measurement (0.886). So the relevance is very high in five minutes, but will be decreased after 10 minutes. 3.We found each examined person has his own meridian pattern. These patterns may provide the diseases information of the patient. 4. After we calculate the three times measuring values by F-test from the meridians of left and right side, Yin and Yang parts, visceral and bowls, hands and feet. We found no difference (p>0.05) between each of them, so there does not have any relevance to effect the measurement. In addition, this study has finished the development of the physician chart output program with the Visual Basic 2005. It can draw the five-Hsing chart of the automated point goals in the functional surface. Compared to the past, doctors have saved lot of manpower and time rather than manually copying raw data to Excel worksheet in order to re-draw various charts in the past