Physiology of Mind-Body Therapies: Meditative Breathing and Autonomic Adaptations

描述(由申请人提供)：Suzanne M.Bertisch，医学博士，公共卫生硕士，是一名普通内科医生，接受过临床研究培训，长期对心身疗法感兴趣。她的长期目标是发展一项独立的研究事业，研究冥想技术的生理效应，并在心血管风险增加的人群中开发有针对性的循证心身疗法。她的近期目标是获得自主心血管生理学和心身临床试验方法学方面的知识和技能。Bertisch博士提出的职业发展计划包括：1)获得心肺生理学的实验室测量和数据分析技能；2)获得进行心身医学临床试验的经验；3)通过正式的教学提高她在生理学、生物统计学和研究设计方面的知识；4)与她的导师和专家协作团队定期互动。这项建议包括两个项目，重点是描述身心慢呼吸(MBSB)对自主神经活动的急性和长期影响。尽管有几个小组的努力，但关于MBSB对交感神经活动的急性影响以及反复练习MBSB引起的自主神经音调的持续适应，仍有许多未知之处。候选人计划：1)在一项急性横断面研究中比较MBSB在长期心身从业者和非从业者中对心血管和自主神经的不同影响；2)评估进行为期12周的随机对照试验的可行性，测量MBSB对患有肥胖症和高血压的非从业者的自主活动和血压的影响；并为未来更具确定性的研究获得初步数据。这两个项目都将是首批使用现代测量和分析技术的项目之一，包括直接测量交感神经活动。拟议的研究和培训计划的完成将增强Bertisch博士进行以患者为导向的心身研究的能力，加深她对自主心血管生理学的理解，并使她能够实现她的职业目标，即成为一名研究心身疗法的生理机制和临床应用的独立临床研究员。 公共卫生相关性：这项提案的发现将为未来心身疗法的临床和机制研究提供重要信息，特别是在高血压等心血管疾病人群中。更好地理解心身呼吸练习的临床益处和机制将有助于开发基于心身的有针对性的降压治疗。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Suzanne M. Bertisch, MD, MPH, is a general internist fellowship-trained in clinical research, who possesses a long-standing interest in mind-body therapies. Her long-term goal is to develop an independent research career studying the physiological effects of meditative techniques and developing targeted evidence-based mind-body therapies in populations with increased cardiovascular risk. Her immediate goal is to acquire knowledge and skills in autonomic cardiovascular physiology and mind-body clinical trial methodology. Dr. Bertisch's proposed career development plan includes: 1) acquiring laboratory measurement and data analytic skills in cardiopulmonary physiology; 2) gaining experience in the conduct of mind-body medicine clinical trials; 3) improving her knowledge of physiology, biostatistics, and study design through formal didactics; and 4) regular interaction with her mentors and expert collaborative team. This proposal includes two projects that focus on characterizing the acute and long-term effects of mind-body slow breathing (MBSB) upon autonomic activity. Despite efforts by several groups, much remains unknown about the acute effects of MBSB on sympathetic activity and the sustained adaptations in autonomic tone evoked by repetitive practice of MBSB. The candidate plans to: 1) compare the differential cardiovascular and autonomic effects of MBSB among long-term mind-body practitioners and non-practitioners in an acute cross-sectional study; 2) evaluate the feasibility of conducting a 12-week randomized controlled trial measuring the effects of MBSB upon autonomic activity and blood pressure in non-practitioners with obesity and high blood pressure; and obtain preliminary data for future more definitive studies. Both projects will be among the first to use modern measurement and analytic techniques, including a direct measure of sympathetic nerve activity. Completion of the proposed research and training plan will enhance Dr. Bertisch's ability to conduct patient-oriented mind-body research, further her understanding of autonomic cardiovascular physiology, and allow her to achieve her career goal of becoming an independent clinical researcher investigating the physiological mechanisms and clinical applications of mind-body therapies. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Findings from this proposal will provide important information for future clinical and mechanistic studies of mind-body therapies, particularly in cardiovascular disease populations, such as hypertension. A better understanding of the clinical benefits and mechanisms of mind-body-breathing practices will assist the development of targeted mind-body based treatments for lowering blood pressure.