• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.75-89
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• 2009

Objectives: Warm needling combines simultaneously the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion. This study was to investigate whether warm needling could relieve acute knee arthritis induced by carrageenan in rats. Methods: To illuminate the underlying mechanisms of the warm needling-induced antinociception, weight bearing force (WBF) was observed on the acute knee arthritic rat model. Under general anesthesia, ST36, SP9, Hakjung extra point, LI4 were punctured and stimulated with 30 mg moxa ball combustion on top of the needle (${\emptyset}0.18{\times}8mm$). Results: In behavioral test, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb 3 hours after the induction of arthritis. Warm needling on the contralateral or ipsilateral ST36 failed to show antinociceptive effect on the acute knee arthritis. Warm needling on the contralateral SP9 or LI4 increased WBF values to normal level in the acute stage of the arthritis. Warm needling on the Hakjung extra-point resulted in the significant antinociceptive effects through acute stage. These effects of warm needling were suppressed by opioids receptor antagonist naltrexone (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and alpha adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.). Conclusion: The data suggest that warm needling-induced antinociception is differently mediated by acupoints and accomplished by activating the descending inhibitory systems including endogenous opioids and $\alpha$-adrenoceptors.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.814-821
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of moxibustion at combined acupoints on sex and age in rats. This study measured the effects of moxibustion on small intestinal motility in rats. Cauterizing with moxa was applied 5 times to the acupoints on SI8, LI11 SP9 and ST36 under enflurane anesthesia in the groups divided with sex and age. In single acupoint groups, cauterizing with moxa on ST36 increased in all of sex and age groups. The SP9 group with 5, 6 weeks in female and 5, 8 weeks in male, the SI8 group with 5, 7 weeks in female and only 7 weeks in male, the LI11 group with only 5, 6, 7 weeks in female and only 7 weeks in male showed increasing on small intestinal motility. In combined acupoints groups, the SI8+SP9 group with 7 weeks in female and 5, 6, 8 weeks in male, the SI8+ST36 group with 5, 6 weeks in female and 8 weeks in male, the LI11+SP9 group with 5, 6 weeks in female and 6 weeks in male, the LI11+ST36 group with 5 weeks in female and 5, 6, 7 weeks in male showed increasing respectively. Although these different according to the sex and age in rats do not have a established tendency, the results suggested that the effects of combined acupoints of cauterizing with moxa have relation with individuality.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.126-131
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• 2022

Objectives : Electroacupuncture (EA) is a procedure in which pulses of weak electrical current are sent through acupuncture needles into acupuncture points in the skin, and Joksamli (ST36) is one of the most used acupoints. This study was designed to analyze the trend of research articles on ST36 EA published in Korea. Methods : Articles on EA at ST36 in Korean journals were searched in Korean databases and analyzed focusing on the number of publications by year, research subject, research topics, institutes, and journals. Results : Total 66 articles were included in this study, which were 51 basic researches, 12 clinical researches, and 3 reviews. Since 2000, the number of articles has gradually increased, reaching the highest level in 2007, and rapidly decreased since 2012. Kyung Hee University is the organization that published the most articles, and the journal that published the most articles is Journal of Acupuncture Research, followed by Korean Journal of Acupuncture. Conclusions : A lot of ST36 EA studies in Korean journals are basic experimental researches using rats, and the research topics are closely related to the diseases of patients visiting Korean medicine clinics. The number of papers by institution is related to the number of professors, and researchers tend to prefer publishing in acupuncture journals.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2006

Objectives : This study is aimed to investigate acupuncture treatments for blurred vision, tinnitus, difficulty in urination and bi-syndrome caused by aging process through oriental medical documents. methods : We researched 21 oriental medical classics for the acupuncture treatments of blurred vision, tinnitus, difficulty in urination and bi-syndrome caused by aging or deficiency. Results & conclusions : 1. Disharmony between yin and yang, disharmony between organs, disharmony of essence, qi, spirit, blood and body fluid are the main features of aging. 2. ST36, BL18, BL10, CV24, ST1, BL23 have been most frequently used for acupuncture to treat blurred vision caused by aging. For moxibustion, ST36 has been most frequently used. 3. GB2, TE21, TE17, SI19, TE3 are the mainly used points for acupuncture to treat tinnitus and deafness caused by aging. For moxibustion, LI1 and BL15 have been most frequently used. 4. CV3, CV7, CV4, BL67, LR8, LR4 have been most frequently used to treat difficulty in urination caused by aging. 5. LI11, GB34, GB30, LI4, ST36, TE10, TE5, Sama (extra point) have been most frequently used to treat numbness, paralysis and bi syndrome caused by aging.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review the acupoints used in cocaine studies and interpret the effectiveness in an aspect of meridian theory of Korean medicine. Methods : Authors searched 50 articles in PubMed, 16 in KISS, 9 in OASIS, 40 in NDSL, and 19 in DBPIA, with the keyword of 'cocaine' or 'acupuncture'. The articles written in English only were included. The articles related with cocaine(abuse, dependence, sensitization, intake, withdrawal sign, withdrawal syndrome, reinstatement, seeking) only were subjected. The articles which used manual- or electro-acupuncture were included, and auricular was excluded. Results : The most frequently used acupoint was HT7, while LI4, LU9, ST36, and SP6 were used once respectively. HT7 could be understood to be used from the meaning of the name as well as the theory that Heart Meridian is deeply related with the brain function. LU9 seems to be used to enhance the effect of HT7. LI4 is thought to control reverting yin that flows toward the top of head following the theory of Jang Bu Sang Tong. ST36 appears to be used because it could regulate stress reaction that reverting yin is associated with. SP6 seems to have effect on brain function due to its ability to control spiritual disorder. Conclusions : The acupoints used in the cocaine studies are thought to influence the brain function through diverse mechanism, and Jang Bu Sang Tong theory seems to be involved in the mechanism, at least in part.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.132-141
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• 2022

Objectives : Some acupoints are commonly utilized to treat a variety of diseases. The acupoints appear to have a wide range of effects caused by several mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to investigate into the potential role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the multipotent effects of individual acupoint stimulation. Methods : We examined the miRNA expressions in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of neuropathic or inflammatory pain rats following ST36 and GB34 electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation. Neuropathic pain was induced by L5 spinal nerve ligation. Inflammatory pain was induced by knee joint injection of Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). EA was given under gaseous anesthesia with the same parameters (1mA, 2Hz, 30 min) in 5 consecutive days. Pain behaviors and miRNA expressions were analyzed. Results : In rats with neuropathic and inflammatory pain, EA treatments significantly enhanced the paw withdrawal threshold and weight-bearing force. After nerve injury, 36 miRNAs were upregulated in the DRG of neuropathic rats, while EA downregulated 10 of them. Furthermore, 14 miRNAs were downregulated following nerve damage, while one was increased by EA. 15 miRNAs were increased in the DRG of inflammatory rats following CFA injection, while 5 were downregulated by EA. Furthermore, 17 miRNAs were downregulated following CFA injection, while 7 were increased by EA. The miRNAs rno-miR-335, rno-miR-381-5p, rno-miR-1306-3p, and rno-miR-1839-3p were regulated by EA in both models. Conclusions : In two pain models, EA applied to ST36 and GB34 regulated miRNA expression differently. There appeared to be both acupoint-specific and non-specific miRNAs, and miRNA regulation of differential protein expression may modulate a variety of EA mechanisms.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.207-210
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• 2002

The effects of electroacupuncture on gastric motility in dogs were investigated in this study. The acupoints used in this experiment were Zu San Li (ST-36), Feng Long (ST-40), Jie Xi (ST-41), and Li Dui (ST-45) which belong to stomach meridian, Wei Shu (BL-21) which belongs to urinary bladder meridian, and Zhong Wan (CV-12) which belongs to conception vessel meridian. The animals were stimulated with 2-4 volt and 5 Hz for 20 min. Electroacupuncture at Zu San Li and Wei Shu acupoint increased the gastric motility, but Zhong Wan decreased the motility. There were no change in gastric movement after electrostimulation at Feng Long, Jie Xi and Li Dui acupoints. It was considered that electroacupuncture at Zu San Li and Wei Shu acupoints to promote the gastric movement, and at Zhong Wan acupoint to depress the movement might be effective in veterinary practice.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.166-175
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• 2016

Objectives : This article examines whether 'Samni', which appears 62 times in Dongui-Bogam: Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine, means Joksamni(ST36) or Susamni(LI10). Methods : After searching the sentences which include 'Samni' in Dongui-Bogam using Medical Classics Database, we checked the original reference of them to find clues to identification of Samni. As for the statements not identified by the original reference nor by Dongui-Bogam, we judged the meaning of Samni by comparing diseases of the statements with those of Joksamni or Susamni's treatment area. Acupoints used together with Samni were also taken into account. Results : Out of 52 statements, Samni in 25 statements turned out to be Joksamni after tracing the reference; 6 statements mention stomach, and 4 statements treat Samni as an acupoint of stomach meridian; in 12 statements, diseases belong to Joksamni's treatment area. Samni of the remaining 5 statements also seem to be Joksamni since the diseases of the statements are similar to those of Joksamni. It implies that Joksamni's treatment area has expanded over time. Conclusions : All Samni in Dongui-Bogam is Joksamni.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2004

Objectives : The usage of acupuncture has gained popularity as an alternative method of treatment for certain chronic pain conditions. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in various diseases has not been fully established and the underlying mechanism is not clearly understood. In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to foot samli$(ST_{36})$ on the carrageenan-induced knee arthritic pain was examined. Methods : A common source of persistent pain in humans is the knee arthritis. Knee arthritis was induced by injection of 2 % carrageenan $50\;{\mu}l$ into the knee joint cavity. When rats developed pain behaviors, EA was applied for 30 min. under enflurane anesthesia with repeated train stimuli at the intensity of 10X of muscle twitch threshold. The weight bearing force of the hind limb was measured for an indicator of pain level after each manipulation. Results : The average weight borne by the hind limb during normal gait was 55% of total body weight, which was reduced to less than 10% after knee arthritis. EA improved the weight bearing of the arthritic hind limb significantly for the duration of 4 hr. EA applied to $ST_{36}$ point produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the arthritic foot lasting for at least 4 h. However, $GB_{31}$ point did not produce any significant increase of weight bearing force. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effect on the knee arthritis model could not be mimicked by EA applied to a nearby point, $GB_{31}$. The relations between EA-induced analgesia and endogenous nitric oxide(NO) and inducible NO synthase(iNOS)/neuronal NOS was also examined. Results were turned out that both NO production and nNOS/iNOS protein expression which is increased by arthritis were suppressed by EA stimulation applied to $ST_{36}$ point. Conclusions : The data suggest 1) that EA produces a potent analgesic effect on the rat model of chronic knee arthritis pain in a point specific manner and 2) that EA-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of nNOS/iNOS protein expression.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 2004

Objective : Acupuncture has been used for treatment of numerous disorders, especially for pain control in Oriental Medicine. However, the mechanism of pain control by acupuncture was not clear until now. This study was performed to prove analgesic mechanism of acupuncture treatment at acupoint $ST_{36}$ by observing the changes of abdominal pain and c-Fos expression in the thalamus. Methods : Abdominal pain was induced by acetic acid, and the changes of writhing reflex after acupuncture treatment on $ST_{36}$ and non-acupoints were measured. c-Fos immunohistochemistry was also performed to study the changes of the neuronal activity in the thalamus. Results : The writhing reflex decrease significantly after acupuncturing at $ST_{36}$ compared with control group(p<0.05). The changes of the writhing reflex by non-acupoint acupuncture treatment also showed significant decrease compared with control group(p<0.05). c-Fos expression in the thalamus, especially periventricular part was significantly decreased after acupuncturing as $ST_{36}$ compared with control groups(p<0.05). Conclusion : This study shows that the acupuncture has the analgesic effect in the abdominal pain induced by acetic acid and the thalamus might be a important area for this mechanism.