• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2013

Objectives : This study is to examine the effects of moxibustion at Junggeuk(CV3), Singwol(CV8) on women's urinary incontinence and quality of life. The study is a research based on the non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Methods : The subjects of the study were 45 women who were using either of 2 health clinics located in Ulsan. They were sampled in accordance with predetermined standards and then divided into the experimental and control groups, respectively consisting of 22 and 23 members. In treating those women through moxibustion, this researcher applied 2 sheets of 'shingigu' to each of the women on 40 min, per time basis. This experiment was conducted 6 times in total for 2 weeks on every two day basis. Data from all of the measurements were statistically processed and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 12.0. Demographic characteristics of the subjects were examined and indicated in frequency and percentage. The homogeneity test of the two groups was conducted using $x^2$-test, Fisher's exact test, t-test and Mann-Whitney U Test. Hypotheses set for the study were verified through t-test and Mann-Whitney U Test. Results : The experimental group who take moxibustion will be lower in the severeness of urinary incontinence than the control group who do not was supported(p<0.001). 2. The experimental group who take moxibustion will be higher in score for life quality than the control group who do not was supported(U=42.00, p<0.001). Conclusions : These findings suggest that moxibustion can be an effective intervention for women having urinary incontinence because it treats the symptom with no adverse effect and it is non-invasive and easily applicable.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2013

Objectives : Many studies have investigated the electric specificity of meridian and acupoint. However, the definition about the real substance of 'Ki(Qi)' that flows in the meridian has not been established yet. The authors hypothesized that the 'Ki(Qi)' may be the very 'bioelectricity' of western medicine, from two common features that they are not visible with naked eyes and that they function in the living body only. Methods : 20 healthy adults participated in this study. Heart rate was measured before and after exercise. Acupuncture was performed at PC6 immediately after exercise with counter balance in the first experiment. In the second experiment, acupuncture group was further divided to the three groups, i.e. glove acupuncture group, manual acupuncture group, and NaCl acupuncture group. In the glove group, acupuncturist put on the two folds of latex gloves to block bioelectric currents between the acupuncturist and subject. In the NaCl group, acupuncturist had his fingertips wet with NaCl solution. Results : Exercise increased Heart Rate and acupuncture at PC6 inhibited this increase. In the second experiment, the significant difference compared to the comtrol group was the most in NaCl acupuncture and the least in Glove acupuncture. However, there was no significant difference between three groups. Conclusions : The results of this study seem to be deficient as a conclusive evidence for the hypothesis that the 'Ki(Qi)' of Korean Medicine is the 'bioelectricity' of western medicine.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.161-170
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• 2013

Objectives : Our study aimed to investigate the sustained effects of sham (SHAM) and verum acupuncture (ACUP) into the post-stimulus resting state. Methods : In contrast to previous studies, in order to define the changes in resting state induced by acupuncture, changes were evaluated with a multi-method approach by using regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF). Twelve healthy participants received SHAM and ACUP stimulation right GB34 (Yanglingquan) and the neural changes between post- and pre-stimulation were detected. Results : The following results were found; in both ReHo and ALFF, the significant foci of; left and right middle frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, and right posterior cingulate cortex, areas that are known as a default mode network, showed increased connectivity. In addition, in ReHo, but not in ALFF, brain activation changes in the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and the thalamus, which are associated with acupuncture pain modulation, were found. Conclusions : In this study, results obtained by using ReHo and ALFF, showed that acupuncture can modulate the post-stimulus resting state and that ReHo, but not ALFF, can also detect the neural changes that were induced by the acupuncture stimulations. Although more future studies with ReHo and ALFF will be needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn, our study shows that particularly ReHo could be an interesting method for future clinical neuroimaging studies on acupuncture.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.230-240
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• 2019

Objectives : This research was performed to investigate the effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang decoction and Hwangryunhaedok-tang Pharmacopuncture at BL10 on cognition and memory impairment in a mouse dementia model induced by scopolamine. Methods : Fifty ICR mice were divided into 6 groups : Normal group (n=5), Control group (n=9), Positive control group for pharmacopuncture group (n=9, Donepezil 0.75 mg/kg), Positive control group for oral administration group (n=9, Donepezil 5 mg/kg), Pharmacopuncture group (n=9, Hwangryunhaedok-tang Pharmacopuncture undiluted solution 10 ml/kg), and Oral administration group (n=9, Hwangryunhaedok-tang 200 mg/kg). For a mouse dementia model, 1 mg/kg scopolamine was intraperitoneally administered to ICR mice. Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture was administered on BL10 for 4 weeks at intervals of 2 days. Hwangryunhaedok-tang decoction was given orally for 4 weeks every day. Morris water maze and passive avoidance test were conducted followed by measurement of acetylcholine concentration, acetylcholinesterase activity, and the amount of BDNF and p-CREB in the brain. Results : 1. In the Morris water maze test, the time spent staying around the platform significantly increased in the pharmacopuncture group and oral administration group than in the control group. 2. In the passive avoidance test, the time spent in the bright room significantly increased in the pharmacopuncture group and oral administration group than in the control group. 3. The level of acetylcholine in brains increased in the pharmacopuncture group and oral administration group than in the control group. Also, the activity of acetylcholinesterase decreased in the pharmacopuncture group and oral administration group than in the control group. 4. The expression of BDNF and p-CREB decreased in the control group, but increased in the pharmacopuncture group and oral administration group. Conclusions : These results suggest that Hwangryunhaedok-tang decoction and Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture at BL10 may have cognition and memory-enhancing effect in scopolamine-induced dementia in ICR mice via controlling the content of acetylcholine and the activity of acetylcholinesterase, and activating BDNF and p-CREB.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2001

Cancer chemoprevention refer to the use of natural or synthetic substances to prevent the initiational and promtional events that occur during the process of carcinogenesis. The effect of Prunella Herba Vulgaris L. Aqua-acupuncture Solution (PVAS) and Prunella Herba Vulgaris L. Water-extracted Solution (PVWS) on the induction of phase II detoxification enzyme (quinone reductase, Glutathione S-transferase) and inhibition of phase I enzyme (cytochrome P4501A1) and benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adduct formation was examined. PVAS is potent inducers of quinone reductase activity. Glutathione levels were increased with PVAS, in cultured murine hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cells. In addition glutathione S-transferase levels were increased with PVAS. However, there was 45.2% inhibition in the activity of cytochrome P4501A1 enzyme with the treatment of PVAS, $5{\times}$. At concentration of $1{\times}$ and $3{\times}$ of PVAS, the binding of $[^3H]B[a]P$ metabolites to DNA of NCTC-clone 1469 cell was inhibited by 25.3%, 45.0%, respectively. These results suggest that PVAS has chemopreventive potential by inducing quinone reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities, increasing GSH levels, inhibiting the activity of cytochrome P4501A1 and benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adduct formation.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.65-80
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• 2001

Effects of $LR_3$(太衝), $GB_{39}$(懸鍾) and $SP_4$(公孫) acupuncture on lipid composition were investigated in rat fed high fat diet. The results obtained from this study are as follows : 1. In the all treatment groups, the body weight values after feeding the basal diet for 4 weeks were significantly decreased compared to the initial body weight. However the decrement of body weight showed a high in acupuncture groups compared to those of control group. In the acupuncture groups, the decrement of body weight showed a high in the $LR_3$ acupuncture groups. 2. The contents of plasma ${\beta}$-lipoprotein and free fatty acids showed a tendency to decrease in the acupuncture groups compared to those of control group and the values of $LR_3$ acupuncture groups showed a low in the acupuncture groups. 3. The contents of plasma triglyceride showed a low values in the complex treatment group of $LR_3,\;GB_{39}$ and $SP_4$. However among the other treatment groups, this values showed no significantly different. The contents of liver triglyceride showed a tendency to decrease in all acupuncture groups except to the complex treatment group of $GB_{39}$ and $SP_4$ acupuncture and in the acupuncture groups, $LR_3$ acupuncture groups were lower than $GB_{39}$ and $SP_4$ acupuncture groups. 4. The contents of plasma glucose showed a tendency to decrease by the acupuncture treatment and $LR_3$ acupuncture groups showed a lower values than other acupuncture groups. 5. In the values of plasma glutamic oxaloacetate transferase activity, $LR_3$ acupuncture group and the complex treatment group of $LR_3,\;GB_{39}$ and $SP_4$ acupuncture were a lower values than other treatment groups and among the other treatment groups showed no significantly different. The values of plasma glutamic pyruvate transferase activity showed no significantly different among all the treatment groups. 6. Contents of plasma and liver total cholesterol showed a tendency to decrease in $LR_3$ acupuncture groups. However those of the other groups showed no significantly different. 7. In the contents of plasma LDL-cholesterol, $LR_3$ acupuncture groups were a lower values than other groups, however among the other groups showed no significantly different. The contents of plasma HDL-cholesterol showed a tendency to increase in the acupuncture groups, however these values showed no significantly different.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.157-164
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• 2001

Radix Asteris has been used in Korea for many centuries as a treatment for respiratory disease. The effect of Radix Asteris on tracheal smooth muscle is not known. The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of Radix Asteris on histamine induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in rats and guinea pigs. Guinea pig(500g, male) and Sprague Dawley rats (250g, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10mm) of the thoracic trachea from each rat and guinea pig was cut into equal segments and mounted 'in pairs' in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 0.5g loading tension. The dose of histamine (His) which evoked 50% of maximal response ($ED_{50}$) was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for histamine $(10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-4}M)$. Contractions evoked by His ($ED_{50}$) were inhibited significantly by Radix Asteris. In guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was 120.5% (p<0.01) after $100{\mu}l/ml$ Radix Asteris. In rat tracheal smooth muscle, the mean percent inhibition of histamine induced contraction was 135.4% (p<0.01) after $100{\mu}l/ml$ Radix Asteris. Propranolol $(10^{-7}M)$ slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Radix Asteris. Following treatment with propranolol, the mean percent inhibition caused by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Radix Asteris fell to 44.6% in guinea pig induced by histamine contraction and by $100{\mu}l/ml$ Radix Asteris fell to 18.7% (p<0.05) in rat induced by histamine contraction. Indomethacin and methylene blue$(10^{-7}M)$ did not significantly alter the inhibitory effect of Radix Asteris. These results indicate that Radix Asteris can relax histamine induced contraction of guinea pig and rat tracheal smooth muscle, and that this inhibition involves sympathetic effects.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.165-170
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• 2001

A rapid increasing in cultivation area due to favorable price temporarily and decreasing in consumer's demands caused by economic depressions recently, lead the price of Cynanchum wilfordii Hemsley to decline sharply. Thus, it may give rises to weakening of cultivation bases in Cynanchum wilfordii Hemsley. To investigate optimal mechanical peeling conditions of Cynanchum wilfordii Hemsley, protruded rubber, plastic pad, diamond shape's steel and palstic brush were introduced as blades and artificial stone, sand and small pebble were done as abrasives. The main results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. It took 2 minutes per 1kg in mechanical peeling of Cynanchum wilfordii Hemsley's raw root whereas 36 minutes in manual peeling and values of lightness showed more higher in manual peeling than in mechanical peeling. 2. Yield in combination of diamond shape's steel blade and sand abrasive showed the lowest at 89.9% among treatments and peeling rates in combination of diamond shape's steel blade and small pebble showed the highest at 71.3% in mechanical peeling. 3. Lightness, one of the most important factors in determining quality of Cynanchum wilfordii Hemsley, showed the highest in combination of diamond shape's steel blade and small pebble brasive at 61.90 in mechanical peeling. 4. As the speed of rotation gets faster, yields tend to lower in mechanical peeling. Peeling rates and lightness showed the highest at 66.8%, 57.96 respectively among treatments at 30 r.p.m. in mechanical peeling.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-103
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• 2006

Objectives: Recently, the effect of acupuncture has been approved not only in the East but also in the West, so the interest on acupuncture was greatly improved. Especially, functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) was embossed as the study tool for the mechanism of acupuncture noninvasively and many studies on the mechanism of acupuncture using fMRI were carried out. We archived the fMRI study on the brain activity induced by manual acupuncture at BL62(申脈). Methods: The study was the acupuncture at BL62(申脈) and we acquired 9 fMRI results from 6 persons$(age\;20{\sim}30,\;4\;male\;and\;2\;female)$. These studies employed The block design for mapping brain activity and acupuncture was perfomed at BL62(申脈) on the left foot. Results: The brain related motor function was cerebellum, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex and thalamus connected these elements. In the result of this study, the regions of significant activation in the cerebellum was centered on the spinocerebellum in the anterior lobe, so we presumed that this result showed the input of stimulation by the acupuncture on BL62(申脈). But basal ganglia and cerebral cortex showed the regions of significant activation in the left larger than the right and regions of the cerebral cortex was the motor and sensory cortex. Such a result explained that acupuncture at BL62(申脈) could have influence the motor function and acupuncture at left BL62(申脈) could affect the right side through the activation of the left basal ganglia and cerebral cortex. Conclusions: In the theory of crossing needling at collaterals(繆刺論), it the pathogenic factor invaded in the Yang Heel channel(陽?脈) that was one of the eight Extra meridians(奇經八脈), we recognized the disease of the collateral channel and used contralateral BL62(申脈) for treatment of the Yang Heel channel(陽?脈). Moreover the result of this study could bear the construction that acupuncture at the left BL62(申脈) treats the contralateral lesion and this construction is related to the theory of crossing needling at collaterals(繆刺論).

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.69-78
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• 2006

Objectives: TuRo, defined as a dance therapy applying the meridian Qi system into the dancing movements, may have effects on ameliorating the psychological symptoms that often appear in adolescent students in a stressful situation. The Objective of the present study was to examine whether TuRo training relieves the psychological symptoms in adolescent female students. Methods: Symptom Check List-90-Revision (SCL-90-R), a 5 point Likert scale, consisted of 90 items that represent psychological symptoms, were used to measure the psychological health status in healthy adolescent female. Twenty two adolescent female students were trained TuRo dancing for two months while 29 in control group were trained mimicked movements without the concept of Qi for the same period. Changes in Somatization, Obsessive-Compulsive behaviors, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Depression, Anxiety, Hostility, Phobic Anxiety, Parinoid Ideation and Psychotic symptoms by the two months of training were compared between TuRo and control groups using SCL-9Q-R. Results: Among the nine-categorized psychological symptoms, the somatization and hostility were significantly reduced in TuRo group (p