• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 2010

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess bra in activation and difference by LI11 or ST36 acupuncture stimulation using functional MRI (fMRI). Methods: A total of 10 healthy right-handed volunteers were studied. LI11 acupuncture and ST36 acupuncture stimulations were applied in order on the left. The block design paradigm of RARARA was used for the task, with R representing rest and A representing stimulation, and each period lasted 30 seconds. fMRI data were analyzed using SPM2. Results: The left LI11 acupuncture stimulation activated both sides of the inferior parietal lobule, the left side of the extra-nuclear, culmen and inferior semi-lunar lobules. On the right side, the nodule and midbrain regions were activated by the left LI11 acupuncture stimulation. The left ST36 acupuncture stimulation activated the right side of the superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, inferior semi-lunar lobule and pyramis. On the left side, the sub-gyral, middle temporal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, extra-nuclear, cingulate gyrus and fastigium regions were activated by the left ST36 acupuncture stimulation. Besides, both sides of the paracentral lobule, inferior parietal lobule, culmen, cerebellar tonsil and midbrain regions were activated. Conclusions: In conclusion, brain signal activation patterns according to acupoints were observed to differ, and ST36 acupuncture stimulation activated more regions than LI11. It is supposed that LI11 and ST36 acupuncture stimulations have an influence on motor function and sensory aphasia, and these stimulations thus represent potential for ocular motor dysfunction, discriminative touch or position sense disorder. Moreover, ST36 acupuncture stimulation activated the cingulate gyrus of the limbic system, so it seems to have an influence over autonomic functions.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.130-137
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• 2010

Objectives: So far it has been reported that acupuncture increases cerebral blood supply and stimulates the functional activity of brain nerve cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that frequently used electro-acupuncture (EA) therapies for stroke increased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in normal volunteers. Though ST 36-ST 41 EA is another prevailing therapy for stroke, there had been no report about its effect on rCBF. This study was to evaluate the effect of ST 36-ST 41 EA on rCBF in normal volunteers using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Methods: In the resting state, $^{99m}Tc$-ECD brain SPECT scans were performed on 10 normal volunteers (5 males, 5 female, mean age $23.6{\pm}0.5$ years). On the other study day, 7 days after the resting examination, 15 minutesEA were applied at ST 36 and ST 41 on the right side of the subjects. Immediately after ST36-ST41 EA, the second SPECT images were obtained in the same manner as the resting state. Significant increases and decreases of rCBF after EA were estimated by comparing their SPECT images with those of the resting state using paired t statistics at every voxel, which were analyzed by SPM with a threshold of p = 0.01, uncorrected (extent threshold: k=100 voxels). Results: EA applied at the right ST36-ST41 significantly increased rCBF in the right inferior parietal lobule (Brodmann area [BA] 40), right retrosubicular area (BA 48), left inferior parietal lobule (BA 40), left middle temporal gyrus (BA 21), left fusiform gyrus (BA 37), left inferior parietal lobule (BA 39), left inferior temporal gyrus (BA 20), and left somatosensory association cortex (BA 7). However, right ST36-ST41 EA significantly decreased rCBF in the right parahippocampal gyrus (BA 35), right cerebellum, left frontopolar area (BA 10), left orbitofrontal area (BA 11), left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 9), and left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (BA 32). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that rightST36-ST41 EA increased rCBF prominently in both inferior parietal lobule (BA 40) and right retrosubicular area (BA 48), which suggest that there be correlation between specific EA and corresponding rCBF.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2014

Objectives : This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and explore the appropriate number of treatment for postmenopausal women diagnosed with prehypertension and stage 1 hypertension. Methods : A 4-arm randomized open label pilot trial will be performed at 2 centers. Sixty participants will be divided into 2 treatment groups and 2 control groups. Treatment groups will receive acupuncture at 8 points(bilateral GB20, LI11, ST36, SP6) for 4 weeks(treatment group A, 10 total sessions) or 8 weeks(treatment group B, 20 total sessions), while maintaining usual care. Control groups will not receive acupuncture but will be under usual care for 16 weeks(control group C) or 20 weeks(control group D). Each patient's living habits will be corrected and drugs that may affect blood pressure(BP) will be prohibited. Treatment group A and control group C will be evaluated at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after randomization, while treatment group B and control group D will be evaluated at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks after randomization. The major outcome variable is the magnitude of change in diastolic BP levels at 4 weeks after randomization; auxiliary outcome variables are (1) diastolic BP change at 8, 16, and 20 weeks, (2) systolic BP change, (3) BP control rate, (4) lipid profiles, and (5) high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Patient safety will be assessed at every visit. Results and Conclusions : The study findings may help develop evidence for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for BP control.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.183-197
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• 1997

In order to detect the safety and effect of various aqua-acupunctures from Scutellariae Radix, the modifications of boiling, filtration and dilution were employed for the manufacture of aqua-acupunctures. We injected 0.2cc of aqua-acupunctures into Joksamri (足三里) of rat, repeatedly. We compared subacute toxicity of them with saline group, distilled water(D.W.) group, acupuncture group and control group. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The groups were all healthy and alive, and there was no special abnormality in physical condition and autopsy. And there were not any toxic symptoms in repeating application of aqua-acupunctures to the rat, including changes of body weight, organ weight, haematological examination and serum biochemical test. 2. There was slight change of body weight in acupuncture group : We could see significance after 3 days(p<0.05) and after 7 days(p<0.001) in body weight loss. After 9 days, all tested groups were suppressed in body weight increment. 3. Result of organ weight : In Palkang aqua-acupuncture(D-2 group), saline group and acupuncture group there were some statistical significance. Especially, acupuncture group revealed significant result in liver and spleen than aqua-acupunctures. From this result, we could suggest that the efficacy of acupuncture was preceded herbal medicine. 4. In serum biochemical test, we examined glucose(GLU), triglyceride(TG) and cholesterol(CHOL). In comparison with control group, the diluted 10 times of Hwanggum aqua-aqupuncture$({\times}10\;group)$ was recognized significant decrease of glucose, but the diluted 100 times of Hwanggum aqua-acupuncture$({\times}100\;group)$, D-2 group, saline group were confirmed significant increment. There was not any meaningful change of CHOL in all of tested group, excepting the acupuncture group was exhibited statistically significant decrease(p<0.05). In TG level all tested group except complex injection of standard compound(CPA group) and HG, there were significant value iii statistically. The diluted solution was more significant decrease than Hwanggum aqua-acupuncture(HG). The mutual relationship of components of aqua-acupunture tended to decrease level of TG, regardless of its concentration. In acupunture guoup, we gained some interesting result In meaningful decrease in 7G. 5. Haematological examination showed significant increment of granulocytes(GR) in all tested groups except Hwanggum aqua-acupuncture. And the diluted solutions of HG expressed very high increment of them(p<0.001). The GR and Mean Corpuscular Volume(MCV) of acupuncture group showed statistical significance.