• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제30권2호
• /
• pp.88-96
• /
• 2013

Objectives : In the acupuncture treatment of Korean Medicine, the Tonifying or Purging depending on how many times the needle is rotated has been used widely. However, there is little evidence about the optimal number of rotation. This study, therefore, was aimed to investigate the optimal number of rotation. Methods : Heart rate variation was measured before and after exercise in 20 healthy adults. Acupuncture was performed at PC6 immediately after exercise according to the protocol of each group without remaining. Pre-exercise and post-exercise measurements were compared and the rotation number that produced statistically significant difference was investigated. Results : Significant differences were found in the heart rate variation and R-R interval Average, between non-rotation group (control) and both of 15 times rotation group of tonifying and 6 times rotation group of purging. Conclusions : Significantly effective number of rotation in the effect of PC6 on the HR and RRAv was 15 times in the tonifying and 6 in the purging respectively.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.31-36
• /
• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review needling depth and location of LU7, BL62 and KI6 by the medical classics' records. Methods : 1. We researched the medical classics describing LU7, KI6 and BL62, and reorganized data about the location and needling depth. 2. We compared the medical classics' records on LU7, KI6 and BL62 with description of WHO standard acupuncture point location. 3. We reviewed different location and needling depth of LU7, BL62, and KI6 recorded in the medical classics with the anatomical structure. Results : 1. The common needling depth of LU7 is about 0.2 chon. But in some medical classics, the depth of LU7 is 0.8 chon. Needling depth of LU7 varied depending on the patient's hand posture. In the 'half-up' position with the thumb upward, it is possible to stimulate acupuncture on LU7 by 0.8 chon because there is a space between the tendons. 2. In WHO standard acupuncture point location, the locations of BL62 and KI6 are just below the lateral and medial malleolus. But in some medical classics, the locations of BL62 and KI6 are between the bones and muscles below the malleolus. In the locations between the bones and muscles below the malleolus, it is possible to stimulate acupuncture on BL62 and KI6 by penetrating acupuncture because there is no bone structure. Conclusions : 1. By the 'half-up' position with the thumb upward, it is possible to stimulate vertically acupuncture on LU7 by 0.8 chon. 2. By the locations of BL62 and KI6 between the bones and muscles below the malleolus, it is possible to stimulate on BL62 and KI6 by penetrating acupuncture.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.14-23
• /
• 2020

Objectives : We investigated the efficacy and safety of miniscalpel acupuncture (MA) treatment combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for chronic neck pain (CNP) in an assessor-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial to establish a basis for larger-scale randomized controlled studies on this subject. Methods : Participants (n=36) were recruited and randomly allocated to the MA group, NSAIDs and combined treatment group. The MA group received MA three times over three weeks. The NSAIDs group was administered orally with zaltoprofen 80mg t.i.d. over three weeks. The combined treatment group received MA and zaltoprofen in the same manner as MA and NSAIDs groups. The primary outcome was pain as assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the secondary outcomes were assessed using the Neck Disability index (NDI), EuroQol 5-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D), and Patients' Global Impression of Change scale (PGIC). Assessments were made at week 0 (baseline), 1, 2, 3 (primary end point) during treatment and at week 7 (4 weeks after the end of treatment). Results : 35 participants completed the study. No serious adverse event occurred and blood test results were within normal limits. The improvement of VAS and NDI was significantly greater in combined and MA group than that in NSAIDs group (p<0.017). The combined group showed better outcomes in EQ-5D at visit 2 and 5, in PGIC at visit 4 than the NSAIDs group (p<0.017). No significant differences were found between combined and MA group. Conclusions : Our results suggest that both combined and MA group can be more effective in improving pain control than NSAIDs group. A large-scale clinical study is warranted to further clarify these findings.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.54-62
• /
• 2020

2019년 10월 16일부터 2019년 12월 16일까지 동국대학교 일산한방병원에서 요통을 호소하시며 X-ray 상 급성기 이상 소견이 없는 환자 3명을 대상으로 하였다. 한방응급실을 통해 입원한 급성 요통 증후군 환자에 대한 봉독약침요법을 포함한 한의학적 치료를 시행한 증례에 있어서 다양한 치료 효과를 확인하였다. NRS, ODI, EQ-5D, EQ-VAS의 모든 지표에서 임상적 호전의 결과를 관찰할 수 있었으며 환자의 주관적인 호전도에 있어서도 큰 변화를 얻을 수 있었고, 봉독약침에 대한 이상반응은 없었다. 봉독약침요법을 포함한 한의학적 치료를 통해 급성 요통이 완화되었으며 요추 ROM 증진 및 운동기능이 개선되고, 치료 기간을 단축시켜 환자의 삶의 질적인 측면에서 큰 호전을 보였다. 향후 급성 요통 증후군에 대한 봉독약침요법의 치료효과를 확인하기 위해 대규모 전향적 연구뿐만 아니라 대조군 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제37권3호
• /
• pp.131-144
• /
• 2020

Objectives : The aim of this study is to analyze the details of acupuncture treatment methods and the reporting quality of acupuncture on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Methods : Search was conducted in Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for acupuncture studies on CTS. The reporting quality of acupuncture treatment was assessed using the following guidelines: Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) for analyzing the method of acupuncture treatment, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) for analyzing study design and study process, and Risk of Bias (ROB) for analyzing bias. The number of reported items was calculated and evaluated as a proportion. The reported proportion of each study was classified into three grades: Grade A (% score ≥75), Grade B (50≤ % score <75), and Grade C (% score <50). Results : A total of 9 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were included in this study. All trials reported 12 items (66.67%) on average in STRICTA guidelines. Five studies were conducted with manual acupuncture and 3 studies were conducted with electroacupuncture. PC7 (Daereung) was most frequently used to treat CTS. In STRICTA guideline evaluation, 3 studies were classified as Grade A, 5 studies were classified as Grade B, and 1 study was classified as Grade C. In the CONSORT statement assessment, all trials reported an average of 20.56 items. Of the 9 RCTs, 6 studies were classified as Grade B and 3 studies were classified as Grade C. In ROB assessment, most studies showed a low (63.49%) or unclear (26.98%) risk of bias. The selective reporting bias and the incomplete outcome data bias were found to have the lowest risk of bias, and the allocation concealment of selection bias was found to have the most unclear risk of bias. Conclusions : Recent acupuncture studies on CTS showed moderate reporting quality. However, more detailed reports on acupuncture are still needed to establish more solid evidence of acupuncture treatment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제37권3호
• /
• pp.172-182
• /
• 2020

Objectives : In this study, we conducted a focus group interview among expatriates living in Korea, to investigate their experiences and perceptions of acupuncture and Korean Medicine in order to improve the usage of Korean Medicine in the medical tourism market. Methods : The inclusion criteria for the focus group interview was: (1) participants between the age of 20 to 75 years old; (2) those who had lived in Korea for more than 90 days, and (3) those who were able to express their thoughts freely in English. The participants were informed that the interviews will be recorded and transcribed. We ended recruitment once saturation of materials was met. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data was analyzed after each interview. Results : The interviews were held between June to December 2016. Twenty-four participants were recruited but four dropped out and a total of twenty participants successfully finished the interviews. Six focus group interviews were conducted. Analysis revealed that Korean Medicine was relatively less known compared to Traditional Chinese Medicine or Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Participants automatically associated acupuncture with the management of pain or stress and replied that these were the areas that they thought acupuncture would be most effective. Positive experiences with acupuncture and with the acupuncture practitioners were factors that promoted the use of acupuncture whereas lack of awareness, accessibility and accreditation were factors that hindered its use. Other factors that hindered the use of acupuncture was needle phobia and the perception that acupuncture lacks scientific evidence. Conclusions : Awareness on Korean Medicine and acupuncture is low. Participants lack awareness on what diseases acupuncture can treat, the scientific evidence behind the mechanism of action, and the rigorous education system that Korean Medicine doctors must go through to get their license. Rigorous marketing should be encouraged, which includes greater exposure in the media, more honest reviews from patients, and promotion of the scientific evidence base.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제38권3호
• /
• pp.140-150
• /
• 2021

Objectives : The increase of osteoclasts could cause osteoporosis and bone-related diseases. Also, the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation is important in treating bone-related diseases. Traditionally, Psoraleae Semen has been used for geriatric diseases, aging and musculoskeletal diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Psoraleae Semen ethanol extract (PS) on osteoclast differentiation and its function. Methods : To confirm the effect of PS on osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption activity, various levels of concentrations of PS (5, 10, 20 and 40 ㎍/ml) were tested on RAW 264.7 cells cultured with RANKL. We measured tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells, TRAP activity, pit formation and F-actin ring formation. The expressions of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATc1) and c-Fos were confirmed through western blot and reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Also, the expression of bone resorption and fusion-related genes in osteoclast was confirmed by RT-PCR. Results : PS decreased the number of TRAP-positive cells and the TRAP activity. In addition, PS significantly inhibited the formation of pit and F-actin ring. Furthermore, PS decreased the expression of osteoclast related genes. Conclusions : PS inhibits osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption ability through inhibition of the expression of osteoclast-related genes. This indicates that PS may be a potential therapeutic agent to osteoporosis by suppressing osteoclastogenesis.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
• /
• 제19권11호
• /
• pp.166-181
• /
• 2018

본 연구의 목적은 비만환자의 비만을 감소시키기 위한 침술요법의 현황을 파악하고 침술요법의 내용과 효과를 파악하는 것이다. 문헌검색은 '비만', '침', '이침', '전기침' 등을 검색어로 하여 한국학술정보, 한국교육학술정보원, 국회도서관, Pubmed, CINAHL 등을 통해 2003년 1월부터 2017년 12월까지 발표된 연구논문을 검색하였다. 연구자가 원본을 확인한 후, 선정한 19편의 논문을 최종 분석 하였다. Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network의 체크리스트로 논문의 질적 평가를 실시한 결과 10점 만점에 9점인 연구가 1편, 10점 만점에 7-8점인 연구가 15편, 10점 만점에 6점인 연구가 2편, 10점 만점에 3점인 연구가 1편이었다. 침술요법의 내용을 파악한 결과 비만을 감소시키기 위한 경혈점은 shemen, hunger, LI-11(Quchi), LI-4(Hegu), St-25(Tianshu), St-44(Neiting) 등이었다. 침술요법 총 시행 횟수는 평균 16.9회이었고, 침술요법 중재 기간이 20일 혹은 72일인 연구에서의 침술요법 중재 빈도는 1회/1-2일이었고, 침술요법 중재 기간이 4-18주인 연구에서의 침술요법 중재빈도는 1-3회/주이었다. 분석한 연구결과에 의하면 침술요법은 신체계측수치의 감소, 혈당 및 혈중 지질 농도의 감소, 혈중호르몬 변화 등을 일으켜 비만환자의 비만을 감소시키는 효과가 있었다. 향후 비만환자의 비만감소를 위한 침술요법의 효과성을 평가하기 위해 잘 설계된 연구가 시급히 필요하다.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제36권1호
• /
• pp.36-43
• /
• 2019

Objectives : Carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) laser, a high power laser has been used for pain management, dermatology, and surgery and laser acupuncture and moxibustion as well, since it had been oscillated in 1964 at Bell Telephone Laboratories in the US. The purpose of this study is to investigate the history of $CO_2$ laser acupuncture through reviewing studies published in early stage of laser medicine. Methods : To investigate the early history of $CO_2$ laser acupuncture, studies were searched in the electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, CNKI, Wanfang, J-STAGE, CiNii, KTNP, and OASIS, since 1964. Articles in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean were included, and there were no limitations in literature types such as reviews, essays, clinical trials, animal experiments and veterinary research. Results : We found that the first $CO_2$ laser application to acupoints was done by a research team in Shanghai in 1976. They used $CO_2$ laser for acupuncture treatment and it was also the first laser acupuncture treatment in China. Since the first case report of $CO_2$ laser for leukopenia, it has been applied to various diseases in China, Korea, Japan and other western countries. It has been widely applied in the fields of dentistry and veterinary medicine, as well as clinical applications. Conclusions : Not only $CO_2$ laser can be used as laser acupuncture by stimulating the acupoints and meridians, but also can produce moxibustion effect by using heat stimulus. Therefore, it is expected that it will be used in various clinical fields in the future.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제36권1호
• /
• pp.1-18
• /
• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for recovery of patients with vertebral compression fracture(VCF). Methods : We searched ten English and Chinese and seven Korean database up to April 2018. Randomised controlled trials(RCTs), quasi-RCTs, non-radomised Controlled Trials(CCTs) were eligible. Quasi-RCTs and CCTs were assessed only for safety assessment. Pain and adverse events were primary outcome of this review. Quality of life, dysfunction, patient satisfaction, incidence of new vertebral compression fracture were regarded as secondary outcomes. The risk of bias was assessed by two independent authors using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Level of evidence was tabulated using the GRADE methods. Results : Of 1656 screened, 15 RCTs, 1 quasi-RCT and 3 CCTs were included. Number of participants per study ranged from 45 to 135. Most of the studies had unclear or high risk of bias and considerable heterogeneity in terms of type of intervention, comparison and time-points for outcome measurement. Compared to usual care alone, acupuncture combined with usual care showed short-term favorable results for pain relief in patients with VCF(5 studies, n=252, MD -1.05 point on a 0 to 10 point scale, 95% CI -1.45 to -0.65, $I^2=74%$). Four studies reported mild and temporary adverse events, and no serious adverse events were reported. One study descriptively reported that acupuncture was effective for improving quality of life without providing numerical outcomes. There were no reports of patient satisfaction and incidence of new VCF. Conclusions : Level of evidence is very low for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for pain, harms and other clinical outcomes in patients with VCF. Included studies suffered from incomplete reporting, high or unclear risk of bias and substantial heterogeneity between studies. Future high-quality RCTs are needed to assess whether acupuncture is beneficial for recovery of patients with VCF.