• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.61-74
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• 2009

Objectives: The warm needling technique is a method which combines the effects of acupuncture with those of moxibustion. The purpose of this study was to find the stimulus effects of a high frequency warm needling device when stimulating acupoint $LI_4$ on the carrageenan-induced arthritis. Methods: This study was to observe the effects to edema reaction, WBF(weight bearing force), NO concentration, nNOS expression after the electro high frequency stimulus of high frequency warm needling device on LI4 with insulated acupuncture needle. Results: The effect of the high frequency warm needling device is to rise up the temperature in proportion to the current intensity. After stimulating on the acupoint $LI_4$ of the carrageenan-induced arthritis in rats with the high frequency warm needling device, it significantly reduced edema in the rat's foot. In addition, WBF, NO concentration of spinal cord (nmol/mg), and nNOS relative expression were reduced. Conclusions: The above results support the idea that stimulus by the high frequency warm needling device on $LI_4$ produces a potent analgesic effect in the arthritis pain model of the rat. Moreover, stimulus by the high frequency warm needling device modulates endogenous NO through the suppression of nNOS protein expression.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.87-106
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• 2010

Objective & Methods: The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-oxidative and immuneregulative effects of electro-acupouncture(EA) at SP6(Sameumgyo) in aged rats. The author performed several experimental items including blood cell counts, blood chemistry, measurement of various oxidants and antioxidants in liver and spleen, analysis of various cytokines in spleen. The results are as follows. Results: 1. EA at SP6 significantly reduced the number of platelets in blood. 2. EA at SP6 significantly reduced NO concentration and significantly increased catalase activity in liver. 3. EA at SP6 significantly reduced NO concentration and significantly increased SOD activity, catalase activity and glutathione concentration in spleen. 4. EA at SP6 restored the increase of IL-4, IL-6 and the decrease of IFN-$\gamma$ in aged rat spleen. Conclusion: According to these results, it is postulated that EA at SP6 has an antioxidative effect through increasing the activities of antioxidative enzymes and inhibiting production of oxidized substances, as well as an immune regulative effect in aging process. In consequence, it is presumed that EA at SP6 may have an anti-aging effect.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.39-51
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• 2009

목적 : 신맥 혈위 자극이 뇌활성화 변화에 미치는 영향에 있어 자침 시술자간의 재현성을 fMRI 영상을 통해 평가하고자 하였다. 방법 : 본 연구는 건강한 성인 남자 15명을 대상으로 실시하였으며, 15명의 피험자 중 7명은 각각 2회 방문하였으며, 두 시술자에 의해 침을 맞고 총 4개의 데이터를 얻었다. 나머지 8명은 1회 방문하여 두 시술자에게 침을 맞아 2개씩의 데이터를 얻어 총 44개의 fMRI 데이터를 얻었다. 실험자간의 차이를 줄이기 위해 자침의 깊이와 회전, 강도 등을 동일하게 하였으며, 우측 신맥혈에 자침하였다. 침에 의해 활성화되는 영역을 확인하기 위해 블록디자인을 사용하여 fMRI를 촬영하였다. 결과 : 다른 날에 실시한 같은 시술자내의 재현성은 24 %, 같은 날 실시한 다른 시술자간의 재현성은 64 % 로, 다른 시술자간의 재현성이 서로 다른 날 실시한 같은 시술자내의 재현성보다 높게 나타났다. 결론 : 침을 이용한 fMRI의 실험에서 시술자에 의한 차이 외에도 실험하는 날짜의 차이, 피험자 인체의 생리적인 변화 등에 의한 차이가 크다는 것을 본 실험을 통하여 확인하였다. 그리고 자침의 깊이와 회전, 자극의강도 등을 동일하게 함으로써 다른 시술자간의 재현성을 높일 수 있다는 것을 확인했다. 추후 침실험에 있어서 여러 변수들에 의한 차이를 극복하고 재현성을 높일 수 있는 방법에 관한 더욱 심도 있는 연구가 필요하다.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.63-85
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• 2010

Objective & Method: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of herbal-acupuncture with Corni Fructus extract (CF-HA) at Eumgok(KI10) on osteoporosis in ovariectomized (OVX) ddy mice. I carried out several experimental items to analyze the changes in body weight, uterine weight, uterus index, tibial length, the ash bone weight, tibial BMD, the levels of serum ALP, osteocalcin, Ca, P and the levels of tibial Ca, P, Ca/P ratio, and we performed histological and histomorphological analysis as well. Result: 1. CF-HA at Eumgok(KI10) significantly did not increase the level of bone mineral density in overiectomized mice. 2. CF-HA at Eumgok(KI10) significantly decreased the level of serum phosphorus in ovariectomized mice and sinificantly increased the level of serum calcium in ovariectomized mice. 3. CF-HA at Eumgok(KI10) significantly increased the levels of tibial calcium and phosphorus in ovariectomized mice. 4. CF-HA at Eumgok(KI10) significantly decreased the number of tibial osteoclast like cell in ovariectomized mice. 5. In the histomorphometric analysis of tibia, GPL(growth plate length) was significantly decreased by CF-HA at Eumgok(KI10) in ovariectomized mice. Conclusions: These results suggest that CF-HA at Eumgok(KI10) may have useful therapy effects on osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Objectives : The object of this study is measuring energy (skin capacitance) distribution on the specific acupionts and analyzing change patterns of meridian energy according to time or synchronous time. Methods : To check energy distribution using the meridian energy measurement system(DMM-1000), ten specific acupoints(ST34, ST36, ST40, ST41, ST42, ST43, ST44, ST45, BL21, CV12) were chosen. We checked the energy distribution and analyzed the change patterns before and after meal. We checked the state of the energy of ST meridian which is considered to have relation to stomach organ activity. Based on the hypothesis regarding energy difference due to Qi flowing, we compared energy potential on 10 specific acupoints. Results and Conclusions : Electric energy of each specific acupoint was different according to subjects and time. Through this study, we proposed an indispensable condition of energy difference due to Qi flowing through meridian.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.13-22
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• 2009

Objectives : Informations on pulse diagnosis in literature are based on diagnosing pulse waveforms on supine posture. However, today's pulse waveforms are measured on various postures for the convenience of patients or doctors. For objective measurement, the effect of posture on the pulse waveforms should be considered. The objective of this study was to find posture-related changes in the radial pulse waveforms. Methods : We used an instrument, DMP-3000(DAEYOMEDI Co., Ansan, Korea), measuring radial pulse waveforms noninvasively by tonometric method. 25 male subjects participated in the trial. Before measuring radial pulse waveforms subjects had rest for 5 min. The pulse waveforms were measured on the left wrist. Each subject underwent this course on the supine, sitting, and standing posture. We analyzed pulse waveforms with Height-parameters, Time-parameters, Energy, and Elastic rate. Results : Height-parameters(h1~h5) on the supine posture were bigger than those on the sitting and standing posture. In case of Time-parameters, the parameters making up systolic time decrease in order of on standing, sitting, and supine position. However, systolic time and diastolic time didn't have any changes. Energy of pulse was the biggest on supine posture and Elastic rate on standing posture. Conclusions : In this study we found that posture changes affect radial pulse waveforms. For quantification of the changes, more trials should be done. After analyzing much data we might apply parameters of pulse waveforms changed by posture. Also, we might diagnose special disease with properties of pulse waveforms by posture.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.31-47
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• 2010

Objectives: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory rat model. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups; LPS control (n=6), LPS+cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV4 (n=6), LPS+cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV17 (n=6), and LPS+cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at Ex-HN1 (n=6). Pharmacopuncture (0.1 ml) was given every two days for 4 weeks followed by inflammation induction by peritoneal LPS injection (5 mg/kg). Blood, liver tissue, and peritoneal lavage fluid were taken and proinflammatory cytokines and other related factors were analysed. Results: Compared with the control group, CV4 and Ex-HN1 pharmacopuncture groups significantly attenuated plasma IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ increase at 2h and 5h after LPS injection (P<0.05). A significant difference from control group emerged at 5 h for plasma IL10 (P<0.05). For liver cytokines analyzed at 5 h after LPS injection, only CV4 pharmacopuncture group showed significant difference in TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-10 (P<0.05). Blood CD4/CD8 ratio and the phagocytic activities of polymorphonuclear neutrophils were not different from those of control group in all pharmacopuncture groups (P>0.05). CV4 pharmacopuncture significantly attenuated increase of plasma ${NO_3}^-/{NO_2}^-$, Intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1), and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) compared with the control group (P<0.05). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, $PGE_2$, and CINC-1 level of CV4 pharmacopuncture group was significantly different from those from the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: These results indicate that cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture at CV4 may have a potent anti-inflammatory effect in an LPS-induced inflammatory rat model.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.23-38
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of the tonification & sedation manipulation for LI4 and KI7 on lacking of sweating in cold environment. Methods: The participants were divided into 3 groups as intact group without acupuncture, acupuncture group inserting and twisting with LI4 tonificaton and KI7 sedation method(LI4-tonify KI7-purge) and acupuncture group inserting and twisting with LI4 sedation and KI7 tonificaton method(LI4-purge KI7-tonify). We obtained baseline data at cold condition with the temperature $14{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. After making the participant staying in cold condition for 10 minute, we measured sweating rate in skin surface, body temperature, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, deoxy-Hb and oxy-Hb in subcutaneous. Results : After acupuncture in cold environment, the sweating rate in skin surface significantly decreased in KI7-purge LI4-tonify group comparing the intact groups. The body temperature significantly increased in LI4-tonify KI7-purge and LI4-purge KI7-tonify groups comparing the intact group. The oxygen saturation significantly increased in LI4-tonify KI7-purge group comparing the intact group. Conclusions : These findings indicated that LI4 tonificaton and KI7 sedation method(LI4-tonify KI7-purge) could be effective for production of sweating in cold condition.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2009

Objective: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has emerged as an important optical imaging modality in non-invasive medical diagnostics. Hence, the aim of this study is to measure the similarity of the diagnosis by a traditional method using doctor's hand for feeling of pulse and by the non-contact/non-invasive pulse analyzing system using OCT on Chon(寸), Kwan(關), Chuk(尺). Method: Four korean medical doctors and the non-contact/non-invasive pulse analyzing system using OCT have measured the rapidity, the dimension, and the power of pulse waves of 25 volunteers. First, four korean medical doctors measured pulse waves of volunteers. During measuring, four doctors were separated from each other and so were volunteers. And then, the pulse waves of volunteers were measured by OCT. This was performed on the right Chon(寸), Kwan(關), Chuk(尺). Results: The study showed that the traditional method and the OCT based method had the 88% matches on the values of the slow and rapid pulse condition (遲數), 64% matches on the values of the small and big pulse condition(微細弱緩大[洪]), and 72% matches on the values of the weak and strong pulse condition(虛實). Conclusions: Based on the high similarities of the measurements of two approaches, we suggest that the OCT based pulse diagnosis method is useful for compensating the traditional method for the pulse diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.13-22
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• 2010

Objectives: The information on the depth where pulse wave appears is as important as pulse waveform. The aim of this study was to classify pulse pattern using pressure-height(P-H) volume-curve by 5 applied pressure levels to find out the information on the depth of pulse and interpret the floating & sinking pulse in oriental medical pulse diagnosis. Methods: We used 3 dimensional pulse imaging analyser (DMP-3000, DAEYOMEDI Co., Korea), which measures radial pulse waveforms noninvasively by way of tonometric method at 5 applied pressure levels, and shows P-H volume-curves by applied pressure. 448 subjects were enrolled, pulse waveforms were measured and the P-H volume-curves were gained on the three locations of Chon, Kwan, and Cheok. Results: Gained P-H volume curves were classified into 3 types ; increase type, decrease type, and increase-decrease type. Increase-decrease type appeared more often on Chon and Kwan, while increase type appeared more often on Cheok. In a few cases, decrease-type appeared on Chon and Kawn, however it never appeared on Cheok. Conclusions: Through the classification of pulse by P-H volume-curve, we gained the information on the depth of pulse. We speculate the decrease type as floating pulse, the increase-decrease type as middle pulse, and the increase type as sinking pulse in oriental medical pulse diagnosis. After more researches on P-H volume-curve by applied pressure, the P-H volume-curve may be used as an important factor for pulse diagnosis.