A Study on the Heat Transport Characteristics of Meridian Phenomenon for the Heart and Lung Meridians Based on Patients With Stable Angina Pectoris
Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Sponsor: Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

ID: 2019ZY003-MERIDIAN
Research title:
A study on the heat transport characteristics of meridian
phenomenon for the heart and lung meridians based on patients
with stable angina pectoris
Date: March 25, 2019

Study Protocol
Part1. Study introduction and objectives
(1) Brief introduction
This study will include 40 patients with chronic stable angina pectoris (CSAP),
and 40 healthy volunteers. Infrared thermal imaging will be adopted to assess the heat
transport characteristics of meridian phenomenon for the Heart and Lung meridians.
Besides, the relative specificity of the two meridians will be investigated.
(2) Study objects
1) This study aims to assess the heat transport characteristics of meridian
phenomenon of Heart and Lung in healthy volunteers and patients with CSAP by
using infrared thermal imaging. Thus, the biological characteristics of meridian
phenomenon could be presented objectively in a scientific methodology. Besides, the
relative specificity of the two meridians will be investigated.
2) This study aims to build standardized techniques and schemes for detecting
the heat transport characteristics of meridian phenomenon for Heart and Lung in the
physiology state and pathological state. Besides, it could lead to the formation of a
standardized, effective clinical therapeutic regimen for treating diseases relevant to
Heart and Lung meridians. The results of this study could provide scientific
foundation for traditional meridian theories, even raise the reestablishment of theories.
Part2. Study program
1. Study subjects
The subjects of this study include two kinds of participants, which includes
healthy volunteers and patients with CSAP.
1.1 Diagnostic criteria
1.1.1 Diagnostic criteria for CSAP
The diagnostic criteria of CASP is based on the “2007 Chronic Angina Focused
Update of the ACC/AHA 2002 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With
Chronic Stable Angina” by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart
Association (ACC/AHA) in 2007 and “Guidelines for the diagnosis and therapy of

patients of chronic stable angina pectoris” by the Chinese Society of Cardiology of
Chinese Medical Association.
(1) Region of the pain: The region of typical angina pectoris is often located
behind the sternum or in the left anterior chest, and its range is often not limited. It
can radiate to the neck, pharynx, jaw, upper abdomen, shoulder, back, left arm and
fingers of the left hand, as well as other parts. The region of pain can also be located
outside the chest, such as the upper abdomen, pharynx, and neck. The region for each
onset of angina pectoris is often similar.
(2) Characteristics of pain: The characteristics of pain is often griplike and
squeezing. The symptoms could also be burning or distension in the chest,
short breath, or even feeling of fear and impending death. Some patients just complain
chest discomfort.
(3) Duration of pain: The pain is paroxysmal. It could last for several minutes,
but generally less than 10 minutes. It will not be momentary or last for several hours.
(4) Trigger factors and relieving methods: The onset of pain is related to physical
labour or emotional excitement. Fast walking or climbing upstairs could trigger the
pain, once stop walking and have a rest, the pain could relieve. Sublingual
nitroglycerin will relieve the symptoms in 2 to 5 minutes.
(5) The degree, frequency, characteristics and inducing factors of angina will not
change significantly within a few weeks.
(6) Diagnosis
is
supported
by
other
examinations,
such
as
laboratory
examination, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and coronary arteriography.
1.2 Inclusion criteria
1.2.1 Inclusion criteria for CSAP
(1) Patients should meet the diagnostic criteria of coronary heart disease, which
includes the following items: 1)confirmed old myocardial infarction (MI), or a history
of percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI), or coronary artery bypass grafting;
2)50% or more luminal stenosis in at least one coronary artery or major branch
segment confirmed by coronary angiogram or CT angiography; 3) myocardial
ischemia indicted by exercise stress radionuclide myocardial imaging; 4) treadmill

exercise testing is positive (for male patients);
(2) Patients should meet the diagnostic criteria of CSAP and the Canadian
Cardiovascular Society(CCS) classification for CSAP is level II or III;
(3) The medical history of angina pectoris ≥3 months, with at least 2 episodes
per week in the last month;
(4) 35 ≤ age ≤65 years, male or female;
(5) Patients have clear consciousness and could communicate with others
normally;
(6) Patients
could
understand
the
full
study
protocol
and
have
high
adherence .Written informed consent is signed by themselves or their lineal kin.
1.2.2 Inclusion criteria for health volunteers
(1) Healthy volunteers who could provide a recent (in the past 3 month) medical
examination report to confirm they have not any cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive,
urinary, hematological, endocrine and neurological disease;
(2) 35 ≤ age ≤65 years, male or female;
(3) Participants have clear consciousness and could communicate with others
normally;
(4) Participants could understand the full study protocol and have high
adherence .Written informed consent is signed by themselves or their lineal kin.
1.3 Exclusion criteria
1.3.1 Exclusion criteria for CSAP
(1) Patients with acute coronary syndrome (including acute myocardial infarction
and unstable angina) and severe arrhythmias (such as severe atrioventricular block,
ventricular tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, frequent premature beats and
premature ventricular contraction);
(2) Patients’ chest pain is caused by valvular heart disease, hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy;
(3) Patients’ chest pain is caused by non-cardiac disease (such as severe neurosis,
climacteric syndrome, cervical spondylosis, and esophageal/pulmonary/chest wall
lesions);

(4) Patients have concomitant conditions of lung diseases, such as COPD;
(5) Patients have serious concomitant conditions and and fail to treat them
effectively, such as diseases of the digestive, urinary, respiratory, hematological and
nervous system;
(6) Patients have mental illness, severe depression, alcohol dependence or history
of drug abuse;
(7) Pregnant or lactating patients;
(8) Patients are participating in other trials.
1.3.2 Exclusion criteria of health volunteers
(1) Participants
have
sudden
severe
diseases
during
the
trial,
such
as
cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, kidney diseases, urinary diseases and
hematological diseases.
(2) Participants have mental illness, severe depression, alcohol dependence or
history of drug abuse;
(3) Pregnant or lactating participants ;
(4) Participants are participating in other trials.
1.4 Participant recruitment
All the participants will be enrolled from the Third affiliated hospital of Zhejiang
Chinese Medical university and the First affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese
Medical university.
2. Study methods
2.1 Study design
This is a prospective and open-label clinical trial. The time frame of the trial
ranges from July 2019 to December 2020. A total of 80 participants will divided into
the CSAP group and healthy group, with 40 in each group respectively.
2.2 Sample size estimation
This project is a clinical research using infrared thermal imaging to assess the
biological characteristics of this meridian phenomenon. It belongs to meridian
researches. Compared with general clinical trials, there is no unified standard for the
sample size estimation. Based on similar studies conducted in China and foreign

countries, as well as the consideration of the actual research conditions of this study,
we planned to enroll a total of 80 participants, which includes 40 CSAP patients and
40 healthy volunteers.
2.3 Participant selection
Prior to the study, the researchers should explain the purpose, contents, benefits
and potential risks of the study to all participants clearly and colloquially. Then the
participants or their families should sign the informed consent form, otherwise, they
will not be included in the trial.
After signing the informed consent form, all participants will receive the
following assessment to determine whether they could be included.
(1) Demographic data and medical history;
(2) Vital signs: respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature;
(3)Laboratory
examinations:
blood
routine
test,
biochemical
routine
test
(including AST, ALT, BUN, Cr, GLU, blood lipid, etc.);
(4) Electrocardiogram.
2.4 Grouping
A total of 80 participants will divided into the CSAP group and healthy group,
with 40 subjects in each group.
2.5 Blinding
The participants and outcome assessors will not be blinded. In the data analysis
stage, blinded statistical analysis will be adopted. Statistical analysis will be
conducted by third party statisticians who are blinded to the study protocol.
2.6 Detection and acupuncture method
(1)Location of the acupoints
LU9: On the anterolateral aspect of the wrist, between the radial styloid process
and the scaphoid bone, in the depression ulnar to the abductor pollicis longus
tendon.
LU5: On the anterior aspect of the elbow, at the cubital crease, in the depression
lateral to the biceps brachii tendon.
HT7: On the anteromedial aspect of the wrist, radial to the flexor carpi ulnaris

tendon, on the palmar wrist crease.
HT3: On the anteromedial aspect of the elbow, just anterior to the medial
epicondyle of the humerus, at the same level as the cubital crease.
(2)Matters needing attention
During the 2-week study period, patients in the CSAP group will maintain their
previous treatment regimen. However, if additional medications or other treatments
are used during the study period due to any reasons, patients should report it to the
researchers to enable them to keep a detailed record. Besides, participants in the
healthy group should not take any medications during the entire study period. If drugs
or other treatments are used due to sudden diseases, the researchers should record the
information and evaluate whether they should be withdrawn from the study.
All the participants are requested to refrain from consuming tea/alcohol/coffee
and smoking on the examination day. Besides, exercise and food is also forbidden
within 1 hour before the detection.
(3)Examination environment
The environmental temperature is within 24–26◦C during the entire measuring
period. The relative humidity will be controlled between 40% and 50%. There is no
direct sunlight and obvious air convection in the room.
2.6.1 Infrared thermal imaging examination
(1) Experimental device: a NEC InfRec R450 infrared thermal imaging camera
(Avio Infrared Technologies Co., Ltd., Tokyo)
(2) Experimental process: The participants will be allowed to stabilize for 15
minutes in a supine position in the experimental room before formal examination
They are asked to keep silent, breathe normally and avoid movement of limbs during
the whole measuring period. The height and angle of the infrared thermal imaging
camera is adjusted so that the measurement sites of the participant's arm is located in
the center of the camera screen. When the size is moderate in the screen, images will
be collected. Finally, all infrared thermal images are transferred to the computer and
analyzed by the software InfRec Analyzer NS9500 (Avio Infrared Technologies Co.,
Ltd., Tokyo), and the temperature data of multiple measurement sites are analyzed

later. The infrared thermal imaging and acupoint temperature will be recorded for 5
minutes.
(3)Measurement sites: Shenmen (HT7) and Shaohai (HT3) of the Heart meridian,
Taiyuan(LU9) and Chize (LU5) of the Lung meridian
3. Outcome measurement
(1)Heat
transport
characteristics:
infrared
thermal
images
and
acupoint
temperature.
4. Safety evaluation
Adverse events (AEs) that occur during the trial will be recorded and assessed by
the investigators during each examination session and at each visit next time. If
serious AEs occur, the researchers should report them to the principal investigator and
ethics committee immediately, who will make a decision on whether the participant
should be withdrawn from the study.
5. Ethical approval and study registration
Ethics approval (approval document No: ZCMU-KY-2019-041, April 29, 2019)
was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University.
The purpose, contents and potential risks of the research will be fully explained to the
participants and their families. All participants will complete the informed consent
form before participating in the study. All participants’ personal and disease
information will be kept confidential.
6. Quality control
(1) The trial protocol has been modified according to suggestions from
experienced acupuncturists.
(2) Before the trial, all researchers who enroll participants and collect data must
attend a series of training sessions. These training sessions will ensure that all
research staff involved fully understand the trial protocol and standard operating
procedures (SOP).
(3) SOP of the examination method is designed before the trial.
(4) Data collection will be performed in accordance with the pre-approved
protocols. All assessors will be trained uniformly to record outcomes and fill in the

case report forms. One independent supervisor will regularly verify the consistency of
the raw data and the recorded data. Data management and monitoring will also be
performed by using ResMan Research Manager (http://www.medresman.org).
(5) During the trial, clinical supervisors will guide and supervise the operators
regularly (once every three months).
(6) Economic compensation is adopted to improve compliance and reduce
dropouts and withdrawals of participants.

7. Flow diagram of the study design

Part3. Statistical Analysis Plan
1. Data entry and storage
1.1 Data entry
(1) The original data collection
All observation scales will be measured on a "one to one" basis according to the
unified standard, and the subject will be completed independently under the guidance
of the investigators to ensure complete and correct completion. In the spot, check
whether the filling quantity is accurate. If any omission or blurring is found in the
case report forms, the assessors should verify the original data in time.
(2) Data entry and statistics
The Excel spreadsheet is used to record the original data and ensure it is accurate
and reliable. A blinded statistician is employed to carry out the statistical analysis and
the research managers should verify whether the statistical methods are appropriate.
1.2 Data storage
(1) The special person is responsible for the management of various documents,
and there are special folders for storage in dedicated files, so that the test researcher
can view it, and have access and access records.
(2) The test documents shall be protected strictly in accordance with the
confidential management principles.
(3) Test file is available for test researchers and relevant researchers view, and
other irrelevant personnel should not be entitled to refer to.
(4) The equipment of storing test files has safety measures such as insect
repellent, fire prevention, moisture-proof and anti-theft.
2. Statistical processing
2.1 Statistical software
SPSS v20.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA).
2.2 Data description
Measurement data is described as mean standard±deviation, median, maximum,
minimum and quartile, and counting data is presented as percentage (%).

2.3 Statistical analysis
All data in this study will be analyzed by a blinded statistician. Independent
sample T test and Chi-square test (χ2 test) will be used for numerical variables and
categorical variables, respectively. When the distribution of variables is abnormal, a
non-parametric test will be selected. A P value < 0.05 will be considered statistically
significance.