Joseph Navach first proposed the concept of the vascular autonomic system as a continuation of Paul Nogier’s ideas of the vascular autonomic signal (VAS). Recent achievements in vascular physiology may give, in principle, a new view on the VAS phenomenon. We propose a new hypothesis of the role of the cardiovascular system (CVS) as an informative and regulatory autonomic system from the perspective of the biological oscillator theory. Biological rhythms are ubiquitous beings demonstrable at any level of organization in living matter. However, the myriad of biological oscillators in peripheral organs are organized and synchronized by special structures: i.e., biological clocks, mostly located in central nervous system. The cardiovascular system plays a harmonizing role in parallel with the biological oscillators forming a single, dominant frequency. The CVS is a very sensitive oscillator that continually strives for optimal flow wave patterns required by humans, and fine-tunes all parts of the system with regulatory roles in the adaptation of the living organism.

The CVS is self-organizing entity that acts as a very precise analog system. The anatomical organ of this system is the vascular endothelium. Endothelial cells behave as hemodynamic sensors, translating mechanical information from the blood into biochemical signals, providing adherence and integrity for the all of the CVS. The vascular system is autoregulated by vascular wall shear stress/ smooth muscle tone interactions, predominantly by nitric oxide (NO) mechanisms. NO is the main “hormone” of vascular regulation, and its release is modulated by wall shear stress, acting directly on vascular tone, regulating blood flow distribution and influencing both central and autonomic nervous regulation.

The VAS is a measurable manifestation of this integration analog system and is expressed by changes primarily in diastolic part of the pulse waves. VAS seems to be independent of cardiac output and is primarily related to the peripheral vascular tone. Positive VAS is present with an increase in retrograde arterial flow, and a negative VAS indicates an increase in forward flow of blood through the artery. VAS is a true technique for assessing the functional state of the bio-oscillator system. The VAS summarizes information concerning oscillating systems and can identifying system variables and parameters, as well as the interactions between variables. The variability in cardiovascular signals reflects the HOMEODYNAMIC interplay between perturbances to cardiovascular function and the dynamic response of the cardiovascular regulatory systems. Interactions between respiratory, cardiac and metabolic rhythms have a functional, hierarchical structure, and cardiovascular phase relationships may play a harmonizing role. The classic academic four-system model of the functional organization of human body regulatory systems can be completed by a fifth component, namely the cardiovascular system. Such a five-system model of the functional organization of the body is in keeping with the classic five-element theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Thus the biological role of the cardiovascular system includes informative and regulatory functions such as the VAS which is a more broad and significant than just a cutaneovascular reflex. The VAS seems to offer a real window to the most significant regulatory systems of the body, and may open a new approach in theoretical and practical medicine. An illustration of the five-system model of functional organization of regulatory systems of the human body can be seen in Fig.1.

Fig. 1: Schema of the five-system model of functional organization of regulatory systems of the human body.
CVS – cardiovascular system, CNS – central nervous system, ANS – autonomic nervous system, BM – body metabolism, ES – endocrine system.

SHEN MEN: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT THROUGH ADVANCED AURICULAR THERAPY
Bryan Frank, MD and Nader Soliman, MD
Integrated Medicine Seminars, USA

Shen Men, or the Chinese ”heavenly gate” point on the ear, is situated at the apex of the triangular fossa. It is one of the most recognized auricular points, and is used in the treatment of most ailments. Shen Men is known to have a powerful influence in treating various conditions, including pain, sedation, addiction treatment, and inflammation. While Shen Men is universally recognized in the auricular acupuncture world, it is not associated with any specific organ; the Chinese auricular points were derived from observation of functional effects, and not necessarily with respect to organs and anatomy. The Nogier French auricular system, however, was developed with anatomic and embryological consistency to localizations of the points or zones. Through understanding the anatomic and embryological characteristics of an auricular zone, the physician will more completely understand the patient’s pathophysiology and generally experience more enduring clinical results in treatment of these auricular zones.

ZERO POINT: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT THROUGH ADVANCED AURICULAR THERAPY
Bryan Frank, MD and Nader Soliman, MD
Integrated Medicine Seminars, USA

Zero Point is situated at the junction of the conchal ridge and the root of the ascending helix. It is one of the most recognized auricular points and is used in the treatment of many ailments. Zero Point is thought to have a powerful influence in treating various conditions including pain, sedation, addiction treatment, and inflammation. While Zero Point is universally recognized in the auricular acupuncture world, it is not associated with any specific organ. It was derived from observations of functional effects, not necessarily with respect to the body’s anatomy. However, the Nogier French auricular system has developed with anatomical and embryological understanding and consistency with respect to localizations of the points or zones. Through this understanding, the physician will more completely comprehend the patient’s pathophysiology and may experience better clinical results through proper stimulation of auricular zones.

INDIRECT CONTROL OF TUMOR GROWTH IN RADIOTHERAPY
A.Shoutko, Prof, MD, PhD, L. Yurkova, MD, PhD
Department of Clinical Radiobiology and WHO Collaborating Center of Radiation Pathology, Central Research Institute of Roentgenology and Radiology, St.Petersburg, Russia

In order to test the efficiency of competing principles of therapy (as argued in Coherence 1998; 2: 36-40), 111 patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma were treated with subtotal –halfbody irradiation (STBI) at nontumoricidal doses (0,1 Gy x 10 during 3 weeks or 3 Gy x 3 daily), with data obtained for 190 patients treated according conventional aggressive radiotherapy (2 Gy x 45 daily). The surgical and chemotherapy components were equal in both groups. A significantly superior response was found with the STBI group when compared with the control group, with a 5-year survival rate of 26% versus 3% with conventional therapy and 16% with modern – 2000 th– intraperitoneal hyperthermie technique, used as a referant. These findings clearly show that artificial provocation of the reparation / regeneration processes in normal tissues, as was the case with STBI, are a powerful technique for indirect control of tumor growth. The autoimmune morphogenetic function of lymphocyte attraction can explain the true mechanism of the indirect tumor growth control phenomenon.

THE BENEFITS OF MOXIBUSTION
Noah Samuels, MD
Shoresh Medical Center, P.O.Box 28048, Jerusalem, Israel

Moxibustion, the burning of herbs such as artemesia vulgaris (moxa), results in many local and systemic changes. Local effects on substance P-containing primary sensory neurons and systemic inhibition of superoxide production may contribute to the analgesic effect of this treatment modality. Moxibustion enhances phagocytic and lysosomal enzyme activity, increases host defense mechanisms such as microvascular permeability, suppresses DTH reactivity and NK cell percentage, and increases the CD4/CD8 ratio. In mice, moxibustion suppresses the induction of arthritis and restores immune competence after irradiation. Human studies have found positive effects in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and ulcerative colitis, and the promotion of version of fetuses in breech presentation. Side effects include severe burns or scarring, which can be prevented with proper care.