Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the needling depth of five-phase acupoints by acupuncture and moxibustion literatures. Methods : 7 volumes of acupuncture and moxibustion literatures was used to determine the depth of five-phase acupoints. The depth of needling at 60 five-phase acupoints was compared between well, spring, stream, river, sea acupoints and also yin, yang, hand and foot meridians. Results : The proximal part of the extremities had deeper needling depth than the distal part of the extremities. The order of well, spring, stream, river, sea can be related to the needling depth. Foot meridians had deeper needling depth than hand meridians. Yin meridians had deeper needling depth at Well, spring, stream acupoints and yan meridians had deeper needling depth at river, sea acupoints. Conclusions : The distinct patterns of needling depth of five-phase acupoints is related to which part of the extremities are five-phase acupoints located.

Objectives : Electroacupuncture (EA) is a procedure in which pulses of weak electrical current are sent through acupuncture needles into acupuncture points in the skin, and Joksamli (ST36) is one of the most used acupoints. This study was designed to analyze the trend of research articles on ST36 EA published in Korea. Methods : Articles on EA at ST36 in Korean journals were searched in Korean databases and analyzed focusing on the number of publications by year, research subject, research topics, institutes, and journals. Results : Total 66 articles were included in this study, which were 51 basic researches, 12 clinical researches, and 3 reviews. Since 2000, the number of articles has gradually increased, reaching the highest level in 2007, and rapidly decreased since 2012. Kyung Hee University is the organization that published the most articles, and the journal that published the most articles is Journal of Acupuncture Research, followed by Korean Journal of Acupuncture. Conclusions : A lot of ST36 EA studies in Korean journals are basic experimental researches using rats, and the research topics are closely related to the diseases of patients visiting Korean medicine clinics. The number of papers by institution is related to the number of professors, and researchers tend to prefer publishing in acupuncture journals.

Objectives : Some acupoints are commonly utilized to treat a variety of diseases. The acupoints appear to have a wide range of effects caused by several mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to investigate into the potential role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the multipotent effects of individual acupoint stimulation. Methods : We examined the miRNA expressions in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of neuropathic or inflammatory pain rats following ST36 and GB34 electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation. Neuropathic pain was induced by L5 spinal nerve ligation. Inflammatory pain was induced by knee joint injection of Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). EA was given under gaseous anesthesia with the same parameters (1mA, 2Hz, 30 min) in 5 consecutive days. Pain behaviors and miRNA expressions were analyzed. Results : In rats with neuropathic and inflammatory pain, EA treatments significantly enhanced the paw withdrawal threshold and weight-bearing force. After nerve injury, 36 miRNAs were upregulated in the DRG of neuropathic rats, while EA downregulated 10 of them. Furthermore, 14 miRNAs were downregulated following nerve damage, while one was increased by EA. 15 miRNAs were increased in the DRG of inflammatory rats following CFA injection, while 5 were downregulated by EA. Furthermore, 17 miRNAs were downregulated following CFA injection, while 7 were increased by EA. The miRNAs rno-miR-335, rno-miR-381-5p, rno-miR-1306-3p, and rno-miR-1839-3p were regulated by EA in both models. Conclusions : In two pain models, EA applied to ST36 and GB34 regulated miRNA expression differently. There appeared to be both acupoint-specific and non-specific miRNAs, and miRNA regulation of differential protein expression may modulate a variety of EA mechanisms.

Objectives : Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder threatening the quality of life and highly occurred in over 65 years old. Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB), a traditional medicine used for the treatment of headache and convulsion, has been reported to have neuroprotective effect. This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of GEB and the proteomic changes in the substantia nigra (SN) of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mice. Methods : Male eleven-week-old C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with 30 mg/kg of MPTP at 24-h intervals for 5 days. Two hours after the daily MPTP injection, the mice were orally administered 800 mg/kg of GEB extract, which continued for 7 days beyond the MPTP injections, for a total of 12 consecutive days. Two hours after the final GEB administration, the brain samples were collected, and dopaminergic neuronal death and proteomic changes in the SN were evaluated. Results : GEB prevented the MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuronal death and regulated the expression of 11 proteins including thimet oligopeptidase, T-complex protein 1, glycine tRNA ligase, and pyruvate kinase isozymes M1. Conclusions : GEB prevents MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuronal death by regulating the proteins in the SN.

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of Sunbanghwalmyung-eum gamibang on Monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis rats. Methods : Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into 5 groups of 8 rats each. Osteoarthritis (OA) was induced by injecting MIA (2 mg/50 µl) into the joint cavity of the left knee of SD rats belonging to the experimental group, and normal saline was injected into the joint cavity of the left knee instead of MIA in the normal group. To the normal group and the controlled group (OA group), 2 ml of distilled water was orally administered. To the positive control group (Indomethacin group), indomethacin 2 ml at a concentration of 2 mg/kg, to the low concentration group of SHG (Low group), 2 ml of SHG at a concentration of 2 mg/kg, and to the high concentration group of SHG (High group), 2 ml of SHG at a concentration of 4 mg/kg ml was orally administered. The drug was administered for a total of 4 weeks, and histological changes were analyzed by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining and Safranin-O staining. In addition, inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and MMP-13, TIMP-1, and GAGs were immunohistochemically analyzed. Finally, hematological examination, blood biochemical examination, and liver and kidney biopsy were performed. Results : SHG groups (Low and High) inhibited the matrix destruction and damage of the knee joint cartilage in SD rat model, and significantly prevented the reduction in cartilage thickness. In SHG groups, the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and MMP-13 were significantly decreased, and the expressions of TIMP-1, GAGs were significantly increased compared with OA group. The safety indicators had no significant differences among five groups. Conclusions : These results show that SHG has cartilage protection capacity, anti-inflammatory effect.

Objectives : An error was found in the recent standard by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the locations of the Upper arm Route of Lung Meridian (URLM) and its acupoints LU3 and LU4. This possible incorrect information is being taught throughout Korean medicine colleges nationwide, which follow WHO standards. Therefore, an investigation is required to sort out this discrepancy based on the evidence in historical documents. Methods : The location of WHO's URLM and LU3 and LU4 were compared with corresponding information in the classical literature. The anatomical structure mentioned in these classical documents was examined. Finally, an assessment was conducted on whether this structure is reflected in the WHO standards. Results : Classical literature prior to the early 20th century records the locations of the Lung Meridian and LU3 and LU4 of the upper arm to be in the artery on the medial aspect. This artery corresponds to the brachial artery. The location established by the WHO is on the anterolateral side of the upper arm, where no large arteries exist that can be found by haptic search or angiographically. The anterolateral side of the upper arm belongs to the Yang aspect, which does not coincide with the Yin aspect of Lung Meridian. Conclusions : The WHO's URLM and LU3-4 standards do not agree with the classical literature. The correct route must coincide with the brachial artery passing through the medial side of the humerus. The actual location of LU3-4 is on the medial aspect of the arm, just medial to the border of the biceps brachii muscle, on the brachial artery, 3-4 B-cun inferior to the anterior axillary fold.

Objectives : In our previous study, we developed the prototype of a lesson plan for meridian and acupuncture clinical skills education by applying the rapid prototyping to instructional systems design. The present study aimed to develop a teaching-learning manual, including the lesson plans, practice notes, and instructions for devices. We also aimed to present a guideline on how to use the manual in class. Methods : The manual and materials for teachers and learners were developed based on the solutions and the prototype derived from our previous study. Practical classes on meridian and acupuncture points consist of four major subjects, and the lesson plan and practice note were designed according to each topic. Results : Flipped learning, George's five-step method, peer role-play, and peer-led objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) were applied as main methodologies in the meridian and acupuncture points practical class. The teaching-learning manual, including practice notes, detailed lesson plan, OSCE checklist, and instruction manual for devices, was developed to be utilized at each stage of the learning activity. Conclusions : The application of the teaching-learning manual is expected to provide effective clinical skills education, strengthen learners' communication skills, establish professional identity, assess learners' performance, and provide immediate feedback. The educational effect of the manual for the existing class should be identified, and its feasibility should be verified by implementing it on another group. This manual could be helpful in designing classes for other subjects of Korean medicine, especially for clinical skills education.

Peripheral facial palsy generally results from damage to the facial nerve. As facial asymmetry is observed, it accompanies not only functional problems but also psychological and social difficulties. Medical institutions treat most patients, however, there are still patients who rely on invasive methods by unqualified practitioners for fear of sequelae. This case describes a 61-year-old woman who experienced facial palsy twice. She visited our hospital with skin damage after folk patch therapy for her facial palsy. Combined Korean medicine treatment was administered during treatment period. After treatments, the symptoms of facial palsy and skin lesions improved. This case showed that Korean Medicine was efficacious in improving symptoms of facial palsy with damaged skin caused by folk patch therapy. Education and awareness of uncontrolled invasive treatments for facial palsy are needed.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Korean medicine treatment (including acupuncture, herbal medication, and pharmacopuncture) for postoperative pain after cervical surgery in a patient with a cervical (C2) extension teardrop fracture. We measured the patient's cervical range of motion, neck disability index score and numerical rating scale score to evaluate the effects of Korean medicine treatment on postoperative pain after cervical surgery. After 43 days of inpatient treatment, the patient's neck disability index score decreased from 75.5 to 46.67 and the numerical rating scale decreased from 6 to 2. Furthermore, recovery was observed for cervical range of motion. In conclusion, this case suggests that Korean traditional medicine treatment may effectively reduce postoperative pain after cervical surgery for cerviecal extension teardrop fracture.