Background : In oriental medicine, the status of the tongue is an important indicator to diagnose the condition of one's health, such as physiological and the clinicopathological changes of internal organs. A tongue diagnosis is not only convenient but also non-invasive, and therefore widely used in Oriental medicine. However, the tongue diagnosis is greatly affected by examination circumstances, patient's posture, and doctor's diagnosis criteria. Objectives : This study was designed to assure the necessity for standardization of tongue diagnosis based on diagnostic criteria of tongue coating thickness (TCT). Methods : Thirty tongue photographs were acquired and analyzed by digital tongue diagnosis system (DTDS) which measured the percentage of TCT on the tongue surface. Fifteen oriental medical doctors evaluated TCT in 30 photographs. Afterward, the 15 assessors were trained for diagnostic criteria of TCT and evaluated the photographs again. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to obtain the agreement rate among the 15 assessors and the agreement rate between assessors' TCT scores and DTDS values. Results : The agreement rate among the 15 assessors after training was higher than before training. The agreement rate between assessors' TCT scores and DTDS values after training was also higher than before training. Furthermore, the difference of the agreement rate between before and after training was significant (p<0.05). Conclusions : The standardization of diagnostic criteria of TCT increased the agreement rate among the assessors and the agreement rate between assessors' TCT scores and DTDS values. Therefore, the standardization of diagnostic criteria is expected to contribute to the objectification and quantification of the tongue diagnosis system.

Objectives : To observe physiological changes during clinical acupuncture treatment. Methods : We recruited 40 healthy volunteers who had experienced an acupuncture treatment at least once within the past three years. The experimental group was divided into four groups according to the needling site and frequency of electrical stimulation. Sites consisted of abdomen and legs. Frequencies consisted of 100 Hz and 2 Hz. The procedures of experimental treatment consisted of seven phases, Resting I phase (Resting I), Needle insertion phase (Insertion), Maintenance of needle insertion I phase (Maintain I), Electrical stimulation phase (ES), Maintenance of needle insertion II phase (Maintain II), Needle removal phase (Removal) and Resting II phase (Resting II). We measured the surface electromygraphy (SEMG) through an electrode on the frontalis muscle during all phases consecutively. Results : When SEMGs of all seven phases were analyzed, they significantly increased or decreased according to phases. SEMGs of Insertion, Maintain I, ES and Maintain II phase significantly increased more than RestingI in abdomen and legs groups. SEMGs of the abdomen group were measured as being $4.78{\pm}0.74{\mu}V$ on Resting I, $16.48{\pm}3.97{\mu}V$ on Insertion, $46.31{\pm}10.56{\mu}V$ on Maintain I, $45.88{\pm}9.72{\mu}V$ on ES, $45.56{\pm}9.69{\mu}V$ on Maintain II, $18.76{\pm}3.05{\mu}V$ on Removal, and $3.75{\pm}0.65{\mu}V$ on Resting II. SEMGs of the legs group were measured as being $3.34{\pm}0.35{\mu}V$ on Resting I, $12.11{\pm}1.76{\mu}V$ on Insertion, $36.74{\pm}6.99{\mu}V$ on Maintain I, $33.57{\pm}6.30{\mu}V$ on ES, $32.66{\pm}6.03{\mu}V$ on Maintain II, $14.08{\pm}2.15{\mu}V$ on Removal, and $2.88{\pm}0.32{\mu}V$ on Resting II. Conclusions : SEMG changed differently according to processes of acupuncture. Electrical stimulation showed different change of SEMG. Thus, acupuncture treatment may change the status of the autonomic nervous system.

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of partial pyloric obstruction on body weight, gastric juice, gastric surface area and gastric edema in normal intact and/or vagotomized rats. Methods : Partial pyloric obstruction was performed by wrapping a non-absorbable rubber ring (D:6 mm, W:4 mm, T:1 mm) around the 1st portion of the duodenum. Vagotomy was performed by resecting the branches around the esophagogastric junction. Pre-post body weight differential, fasting gastric juice volume, gastric surface area and gastric edema were measured at 8 weeks and 20 weeks. For the effect of pyloric reperfusion the rubber ring was removed after 8 weeks and then an additional 12 weeks of observation was performed to the end of the 20-week experimental period. Results : In the initial 8 weeks observation, the effect of pylorus obstruction and/or vagotomy was significantly remarkable in the pylorus obstructed and vagotomized group; slowdown of weight gain, increase of fasting gastric juice volume, dilatation of gastric surface area and severe gastric edema were shown. In the remaining 12 weeks observation, the effect of reperfusion was significantly remarkable in the ring-removed antral dilated group; recovery of weight gain, decrease of gastric surface area and decrease of gastric edema were shown. However, gastric juice volume was not significantly different from the other group. Conclusions : Partial pyloric obstruction plays a aggravating role and the vagus nerve plays a protective role in body weight, gastric juice, gastric surface area, and gastric edema. Furthermore, pyloric valve dysfunction as an aggravating factor strengthened in defect of the vagus nerve. These results suggest that patients with both functional pyloric outlet obstruction and hypofunction of vagus nerve need to be diagnosed in good time and treated properly.

Objectives : Many studies have shown that helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with gastroduodenal diseases. The purpose of this report was to evaluate recently published research on the influence of oriental herbal medicine on H. pylori infections. Methods : Recently published literature were systematically compared with their findings of how oriental herbal medical treatment affects H. pylori-associated disease. Results : The eradication rate of H. pylori in oriental herbal medicine groups was 66.93% while it was 66.02% in western medicine groups. In oriental herbal plus western medicine groups, interestingly, the rate increased to 84.78%. On the other hand, the total treatment efficacy rate of H. pylori in oriental herbal medicine groups was 91.27%. The treatment efficacy rate in oriental herbal plus western medicine groups rose to a record 93.22%, which was 15.34% higher than the rate in western medicine groups. In addition, the rate of adverse effects was 2.71%, 4.85%, 15.80% in oriental herbal medicine, western medicine, and oriental herbal plus western medicine groups, respectively. Diarrhea was most frequently observed in oriental herbal medicine groups, while nausea was most frequently observed in the other groups. Conclusions : The results of this study showed that herbal medicinal treatment can increase the rate of H. pylori eradication and improve H. pylori-related gastrointestinal symptoms. These findings suggest that herbal medicine can solve the problems including side effects due to antibiotic resistance of standard triple therapy.

Objectives : This study aimed to obtain general information for the design of a medical tourism plan toward Chinese using Korean medicine (KM). Methods : A questionnaire was asked of Chinese tourists regarding of Korea traditional medical tourism. 148 valid responses were obtained and their awareness of KM, and preferred subject and decision factors for their participation in Korea traditional medical tourism were analyzed using SPSS version 12.0. Results : 72% of respondents showed over a moderate degree of interest in medical tourism of KM. The most preferred subject was skin aesthetics, followed by medical check-ups and rehabilitation. Medical skill level, communication, and medical cost were indicated as the important factors for participants' decisions about KM-based medical tourism. Conclusions : Medical tourism could be a potential avenue for development by the KM-based Korean medical industry. Cosmetic-associated medical services are recommended, and enhanced public relations about KM-medical skill levels are strongly suggested for Chinese tourists.

Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate the single oral dose toxicity of Seonpyejeongcheon-tang (SJT) in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : In this single oral toxicity study, rats were orally administrated in a single dose of 0 or 5,000 mg/kg SJT. There were 7 rats in each group. After single administration, mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes and gross pathological findings were observed for 14 days. Organ weight, clinical chemistry and hematology were tested after 14 days. Results : There was no mortality or other clinical signs for 14 days. There were also no significant differences in body weight, organ weights, hematological and serum chemical parameters between the SJT and control groups. Conclusions : The results obtained in this study suggest that the 50% lethal dose of SJT is over 5,000 mg/kg, so this finding can be expected to provide scientific evidence for the safety of SJT.

Objectives : To establish objective and scientific evidence of Korean medicine (KM), the papers on Oryeong-san (Wuling-san) frequently used in medical institutions of Korean Medicine were analyzed. Methods : The papers were classified by the registration of domestic or international journals, the year of publication, experimental fields and the kinds of studies on biological activities. The therapeutic mechanism was investigated in accordance with therapeutic effect of Oryeong-san (Wuling-san). Results : Out of 57 articles selected, 16 were published in domestic journals, 17 were in Chinese journals and 24 were in Japanese journals. Most papers reported as biological activities were on improvement of renal function. Oryeong-san (Wuling-san) increased urine factor such as urine excretion and electrolyte balance while decreasing proteinuria, serum factors including creatinine, cholesterol and triglyceride. In addition, injured renal tissue was recovered normally and gene expression controlling urine excretion was down-regulated. Conclusions : Improvement of renal function could be interpreted as objective and scientific evidence for Oryeong-san (Wuling-san).

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of Bogijetongtanggammi-bang (BJTG) on injury of the peripheral nerve tissues. Methods : Rats were divided into 2 groups. The rats of the first group were injected with Taxol (1.25 mg/kg) to their sciatic nerves, once each. The sciatic nerves of the rats of the second group were crushed by forcept for 30 seconds. Rats were administered with BJTG (400 mg/kg) or 0.9% saline for 5 days. Changes of DRG neurons, Schwann cells, Cdc2, caspase 3. phospho-p44/42 Erk1/2, phospho-vimentin and ${\beta}1$ integrin were observed by fluorescent microscope and analysed in western blot. Results : In Taxol-treated SD rat models, BJTG up-regulated neurite outgrowth, Schwann cells, Cdc2 and phospho-Erk1/2, and down-regulated caspase 3. In pressure-injured rat models, BJTG up-regulated axons of sciatic nerve, Schwann cells, Cdc2, phospho-vimentin, ${\beta}1$ integrin, and down-regulated caspase 3. Conclusions : Taken together, BJTG was promotive of nerve regeneration on SNI as well as Taxol-induced nerve injury. BJTG had a pharmaceutical property enhancing recovery of injured peripheral nerves and could be a candidate for drug development after further research.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized clinically by various combinations of parkinsonian, autonomic, cerebellar, or pyramidal signs and pathologically by cell loss, gliosis, and ${\alpha}$-synuclein-positive glial cytoplasmic inclusions in several brain and spinal cord structures. This is a clinical report about a 69-year-old female who had MSA treated by oriental medical treatment and evaluated by Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS). The patient was treated with herb medicine Chungsimyeonj-aeumgami(淸心蓮子飮加味), acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping. After treatment, the patient's symptoms improved meaningfully and the score decreased in UMSARS Part I, II. This suggests that oriental medical treatment could be effective to improve MSA patients' symptoms. It is necessary to have more observations and many cases of patients with MSA.