• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.29-41
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• 2003

Clinical observation was made on 52 cases of Stroke that were confined through brain CT, MRI scan. The Stroke cases wee classified into the following kinds cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebellar or brain stem infarction, cerebellar or brain stem hemorrhage. And among the 52 cases of Stroke cerebral infarction was noticed in 75.00%, cerebral hemorrhage in 11.54%, cerebellar or brain stem infarction in 9.52%, cerebellar or brain stem hemorrhage in 3.85%. The ratio between males and females was 1.74:1 in the whole groups of Stroke and most cases were over 60 of age. As the time of hospitalization, most patients hospitalized from 1 day after stroke to 7 days after stroke. And as the course of hospitalization, most patients hospitalized first. Among the preceding disease at the onset of Stroke hypertention was noted in 32.69%, and deabetes mellitus or heart problem was noted frequently(15.39%). Electrocardiography findings were as follows: The normal was noted in 53.85%, the abnormal in 46.15%. And as the abnormal, left ventricular hypertrophy was noted in 17.54%. The predisposing factors or conditions at the onset of brain infarction were usually initiated during the time of sleeping and those of brain hemorrhage chiefly during the time of exercising like overwork or walking etc. It was noted that smoking a pack of cigarette showed highest disease rate(33.33%) among the average of smoking amount of one day in case of man. Prior to attack, the most chiefly complain was dyspnea or discomfort on chest region. And 30.70% of patients had no previous sign. There were a large number of recurrent cases. The first attack was noted in 71.15%, the 2nd attack in 23.08%, the 3rd attack in 5.77%.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.53-65
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• 2003

Although the effect of Bee Venom has been reported, its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Nitric Oxide(NO) is one of the free radicals and mediates in inflammation diseases. Chemokines contribute to the pathogenesis of several disorders such as allergic rhinitis and rheumatoid arthritis and so on. The objective of this study was to investigate the scavenging effect of Bee Venom on NO and on expression of chemokine genes. There was no significant NO scavenging effect in Crude Bee Venom, Apamin, Melittin, and MCD-peptide. The expression of chemokines was examined by RT-PCR using the human mast cell line(HMC-1), which is known to secrete and express chemokines. In order to investigate the protective effect of Bee Venom, HMC-1 cells were incubated with pretreatment of Bee Venom for 24 hrs and stimulated with 1 uM calcium ionophore A23178 for 2 hrs. RT-PCR analyses of chemokine genes showed that expressions of RANTES and MCP-1 were increased compared to the calcium ionophore-only treated group. But IL-8 and MCP-3 did not express increasing effect compared to control group. This study may provide important basic data on the possibility of the clinical treatment of Bee Venom in inflammation diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.151-160
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was undertaken to examine whether Juglandis Semen herbal acupuncture (JGA) exerts protective effect against oxidant-induced cell injury in rabbit liver. Methods : The cell damage was estimated by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and lipid peroxidation was estimated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) in rabbit liver slices. Results : t-Butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) caused an increase in LDH release and lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner over concentrations of 0.5-2 mM, which were prevented by addition of 0.05% JGA. The protective effect of JGA was dose-dependent in concentration range of 0.005 to 0.1%. The concentrations of 0.005 and 0.1% JGA completely prevented the LDH release and lipid peroxidation by 1 mM tBHP. When liver tissues were exposed to 1 mM tBHP, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in the medium was significantly increased, which was prevented by 0.05% JGA. tBHP (2 mM) decreased GSH content and the effect was prevented by 0.05% JGA. Conclusion : These results suggest that JGA exerts protective effect against oxidant-induced cell injury by antioxidant action resulting from enhancement of GSH content in the liver.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.201-210
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• 2002

Objective : The aim of this study was to assess the effects of admission care on Bell's palsy by case control study. Method : 27 patients who diagnosed as Bell's palsy were shared 13 inpatients group treated by early admission care, and 14 outpatients group. They were equally treated with acupuncture, herb medicine and western medicine. The groups were evaluated by Yanagihara,s unweighted grading system at pre-treatment, after 5 days, after 10 days and after 15 days. Results : The Yanagihara,s scores of 2 groups showed stastically significant improvement in comparison with pre-treatment. In improvement index after treatment, the Yanagihara,s scores of 2 groups increased but were not stastically significant the difference. Conclusion : These results provided that the admission care may not be a valuable treatment for Bell's palsy. Further study is needed to evaluate the effect of early admission care on Bell's palsy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.45-62
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• 2003

Objective : To examine the effects of Beevenom on the cell proliferation of human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7, we performed various experiments such as does-dependent effect of Beevenom on cell proliferation and viability, morphological changes, and alterations of apoptosis/cell cycle-regulatory gene products. Methods : Beevenom induced cell viability and proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The anti-proliferative effect by Beevenom treatment in MCF-7 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrance shrinking and cell rounding up. Results : Beevenom induced apoptotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manager, which was associated with degradation of ${\beta}$-catenin, an apoptotic target protein. Beevenom induced the Bax expressions, a pro-apoptotic gene, both in protein and mRNA levels, however, the levels of Bcl-$X_{S/L}$ expression, an anti-apoptotic gene, were down-regulated in Beevenom-treated cells. Western blot analysis and RT-PCT data revealed that the levels of cyclin of B1 protein and cyclin E mRNA were reduced by Beevenom treatment in MCF-7 cells, respectively, where as the expression of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p21 mRNA were markedly increased in a concentration-dependent fashion. Conclusions : Taken together, these findings suggest that Beevenom induced inhibition of human breast cancer cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death and Beevenom may have therapeutic potential in human breast cancer.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.15-23
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• 2003

Objective : The role of high frequency 120 Hz electroacupuncture(EA) in carrageenan-induced pain was studied by examining the alnalgesic effects, and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ levels measurement and spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor expression. Inflammation was induced by an intraplantar injection of 1% carrageenan into the right hind paw. Method : Bilateral EA stimulation with 120 Hz were delivered at those acupoints corresponding to Zusanli and Sanyinjiao in man via the needles for a total of 30 min duration in carrageenan-injected rats. Results : EA stimulation showed significant analgesic effects as measured by analgesy-meter at all time points tested compared with controls. Three hours after carrageenan injection, PGE2 levels were measured by commercial kit. EA significantly inhibited PGE2 production in the right paw. The number of NR1 and NR2A, NMDA receptor, immunoreactive neurons was significantly increased in the superficial dorsal horn(laminae I-II) and nucleus proprius(laminae III-IV) of ipsilateral spinal cord at L4-5. But the number of carrageenan-induced NR1 and NR2A immunoreactive neuron, especially NR1 immunoreaction in the superficial dorsal horn, was reduced by 120 Hz EA stimulation. Conclusions : These results indicate that NMDA receptors may mediate transmission of nociceptive information originating in tissue inflammation of hind paw and high frequency 120 Hz EA stimulation have an alleviating action against local inflammatory pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.177-193
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• 2003

Objective : The present studies investigated the effects of 120Hz high frequency electroacupunctue(EA) on the stress-induced stomach dysfunction in relation to its effect on the level of stress hormone and gastric mucosal damages. The gastric mucosal injury was induced by cold-restraint stress and two acupoints corresponding to Zusanli and Sanyinjiao in man were used. Methods: Cold-restraint stress produced typical gastric lesions in all rats of the stressed groups, but he number of ulcers as well as the mean ulcer diameter were reduced by 120 Hz EA pre-treatment. The cold-restraint stress also induced an increase in catecholamine response involving epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, but an slight decline were observed in EA pre-treated rats compared with cold-restrained rats. Results: The degranulation value of gastric mast cell was significantly higher in cold-restrained rats than in control ones. However, with the significant reduction of degranulation values of gastric mast cells in EA pre-treated rats compared with cold-restrained ones, $PGE_2$ content in the gastric mucosa of EA pre-treated rats was also different from that observed in cold-restrained rats. Cold-restraint stress induced an elevated mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory gene such as cyclooxygenases-2 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$, but these expression were down-regulated in EA pre-treated rats. Immunohistochemecal analysis showed that while the inhibitory-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ an TNF-${\alpha}$ immunoreaction in the surface epithelium of the stomach tended to increase, both reactions in the EA pre-treated rats showed similar pattern as observed in controls. Conclusions : These results suggest that 120 Hz EA may act as a therapeutical means for gastric mucosal damages through a activation of pituitary adrenal system. it could be concluded that 120 hz high frequency electroacupuncture affords a good protective potential against stress-induce gastrointestinal dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.155-166
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine if Plantaginis Semen(PS) has a protective effect against $CCI_4$ induced hepatoxicity in Rats. Methods: The experimental groups were divided into Normal group (untreated Group), Control group $(group\;treated\;with\;CCI_4)$, Sample 1 (group treated with 0.1 ml Plantaginis Semen herbal acupuncture in both sides of $G\bar{a}nsh\bar{u}\;(BL_{18})$ after $CCI_4$ treating) and Sample 2 (group treated with feeding of 1 cc Plantaginis Semen extraction after $CCI_4$ treating). Rats were administered orally $CCI_4\;(0.1\;ml/kg)$ for 4 days. In experiments for PS effect, rats of Sample 1 group received 0.lml herbal acupuncture of PS extraction in both sides of corresponding $G\bar{a}nsh\bar{u}\;(BL_{18})$ of human body for 3 days after treated $CCI_4$. Rats of Sample 2 group feeded PS extraction (1cc) for 3 days after treated $CCI_4$. Variation of weight and biochemical assays (AST, ALT, LDH, ALP, total cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin) were performed. Results: In Control group, $CCI_4$ increased serum AST, ALT, LDH, ALP, total protein, albumin and decreased weight, total cholesterol, triglyceride. Sample 1 and Sample 2 significantly decreased serum AST, ALT, LDH, ALP, total protein, albumin as compared with Control group. Conclusion: These results indicate that PS could be used in prevention and treatment of hepatoxicity. However, precise mechanisms of PS protection remain to be determined.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.117-127
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• 2005

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine if Plantaginis Semen herbal acupuncture(PSA) has a protective effect on glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats. Methods : Rats were dehydrated for 24hr and then injected with 4 ml/kg of 50% glycerol in each hindlimb muscle. In experiments for PSA effect, rats were received 0.1 ml of PSA extraction in both sides of corresponding $Sh\grave{e}nsh\bar{u}(BL_{23})$ of human body for 3 days after injection of glycerol. The experimental group were divided into the normal group, the control group, the sample 1,2,3 group. Results : Glycerol injection decreased glomerular filtration rate and increased urine volume, serum creatinine, BUN level and fractional excretion of $Na^+,\;K^+\;and\;Cl^-$. These results show that glycerol injection bring about acute renal failure. PSA significantly increased glomerular filtration rate and significantly decreased serum creatinine, BUN level and fractional excretion of $Na^+,\;and\;Cl^-$ as compared with control group. Conclusion : These results suggest that PSA can be used in prevention and treatment for acute renal failure. However, the precise mechanisms of PSA protection remain to be determined.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.105-117
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• 2005

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine if Juglandis Semen herbal acupuncture(Ja) has a protective effect against glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats. Methods : Rats were dehydrated for 24hr and then injected with 5 ml/kg of 50 % glycerol, one-half of dose in each hindlimb muscle. In experiments for Ja effect, rats received 0.1 ml of Ja extraction in both sides of corresponding $Sh\grave{e}nsh\bar{u}(BL_{23})$ of human body and non-acupuncture points(the root of tail) for 3 days after injection of glycerol. The experimental group were divided into the Normal group, the Control group, the Ja to $Sh\grave{e}nsh\bar{u}(BL_{23})$ group(Ja-AS), the Ja to non-acupuncture points group(Ja-AN). Results : There were significant decrease of urine volume, BUN, fractional glucose excretion, fractional phosphate excretion, total protein level in Ja-AS as compared with the control group. Conclusion : This suggests that Ja-AS could be used in prevention and treatment of acute renal failure. However, the precise mechanisms of Ja protection remain to be determined.