• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.46-54
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• 2001

Objective : To study correlation of the brain areas with acupoints used in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases to evaluate the hypothesis that selecting acupoints on the left side to treat disorders on the right side and vice versa is known as the crossing combination of acupoints. Materials and Methods: Rest/acupuncture-stimulation Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT using a same-dose subtraction method was performed on 5 normal male volunteers (age range from 27 to 30 years) using acupuncture at acupoint, LI4 located in the left hand. In the control study, needle location was chosen on a non-meridian focus 1cm posterior to the right fibular head. All images were spatially normalized and the differences between rest and acupuncture stimulation were statistically analyzed using SPM(R) for Windows(R). Results : Acupuncture applied at LI4 located in the left hand increased rCBF in the right hemisphere, that is, the right parietal lobe(angular gyrus) and a part of the right middle posterior temporal gyrus and the right inferior occipital lobe. In the control stimulation, no significant rCBF increase was observed. Conclusion : The results demonstrated a correlation between stimulation at acupoint with increase in rCBF to the controlateral hemisphere.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.57-71
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• 2004

Objective : Physiological evidence regarding acupuncture's effect in human patients is not yet well established, despite considerable evidence for its therapeutic efficacy. Besides target or disease specificity of acupuncture, acupuncture analgesia (AA) appears to be another large subclass that poses many questions, such as whether there is point specificity with respect to which acupoint is most effective for a particular condition. Methods : We observed brain activation with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a set of stimuli that consist of pain, pain following Meridian acupuncture, and pain following Sham acupuncture. Results : Among the new observations, the most interesting fact is that data sets of both Meridian acupuncture and Sham acupuncture show decreased activation of the same brain areas related to the pain processing signals. Present functional MRI study demonstrate two important biological observations that could elucidate AA mechanism in human participants: the effects of acupuncture occur through mediation of the higher brain areas. Sham acupuncture stimulation appears to be almost as effective as traditional Meridian acupoint stimulation, suggesting that acupuncture is not entirely point specific. Decreased activation in the limbic paleo cortical areas appears to be the probable neurological manifestation of AA and strongly implies that acupuncture stimulation inhibits the transmission of ascending pain signals to the higher cortical areas by the previously known descending pain inhibitory circuit. Conclusion : We, therefore, a hypothesized that this pain inhibitory circuit is initiated and mediated via the broad sense Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal (BS HPA) axis in conjunction to the "sensory stimulation."

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.33-43
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the protective effects of acupuncture on the liver in the oxidative stress caused by cadmium accumulation. Sprague-Dawley male($150{\pm}30g$) rats were stabilized for a week and divided into 5 groups which is normal, control, $LR_3$ acupuncture, $BL_{23}$ acupuncture and sham acupuncture group. For three days experimental groups were received oral doses of cadmium 2 mg/kg twice a day. Acupuncture was given bilaterally at each point 10 times for two weeks. The depth of stimulation was 1 mm at right angles and torsion of acupuncture was produced 2 times per second for 1 minutes. The liver was shipped off and taken weight at the last day of two weeks, and hepatic functions was confirmed through alanine transaminase(ALT) and aspartate amino-transferase(AST). We measured reactive oxygen species of serum, liver and kidney, and compared expression levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase(Gpx), nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-related factor 2(Nrf-2), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), Bax and Cytochrome c. $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group significantly increased liver weight and decreased ALT compared to control group. For the oxidative stress, $LR_3$ acupuncture group significantly reduced reactive oxygen species, and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group significantly reduced reactive oxygen species and inflammation-related protein compared to control group. But $LR_3$ acupuncture group and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group didn't significantly reduce apoptosis-related protein. Therefore $LR_3$ and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture showed the effects of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, especially $BL_{23}$ acupuncture was more effective than $LR_3$ acupuncture on the protection of liver in the oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2013

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the general effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation of the ankle joint acupuncture points(BL62 and KI6) on the brain waves of elderly women as a pilot study to figure out the possibility of candidate non-invasive and non-chemical stimulation method for the enhancing the brain function. Methods : A randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial was performed in 31 healthy women(mean age, 54.5 years) within a treatment duration of 12 sessions. In the experimental group, low-frequency electrical stimulation was applied using the maximum range of the individual insensible strength(mean current, $0.04{\mu}A$). The control group received sham stimulation. The background electroencephalographic activity was measured before and after the12 sessions. Results : After 12 sessions of stimulation, the relative power of the alpha wave increased(32 of 32 channels: significant difference in 11 channels, p<0.05); the theta(30 of 32 channels: significant difference in 10 channels, p<0.05), beta(31 of 32 channels), and gamma(30 of 32 channels: significant difference in 7 channels, p<0.05) powers were also decreased compared with the sham group. Conclusions : Electrical stimulation on the ankle joint acupuncture points(BL62 and KI6) seemed to stabilize the elderly women brain by inducing the alpha power and reducing beta, theta, and gamma powers. These results provide insight into the action mechanism of the stimulation and can assist the future developement of a non-invasive and non-chemical treatment technique for stressor related cognitive problems.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.598-603
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• 2012

Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Polygoni avicularis Herba Herbal-acupuncture( PaH-HA) at KI10(Umgok) on nephritis induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in rats. Methods : Rats were allocated into normal, control, and 3 experimental groups. The rats in the control group were intra-peritoneally injected with LPS for nephritis induction. The rats in the groups of experiment 1, experiment 2, and experiment 3 were treated with single needle prick, saline injection, and PaH-HA, respectively at KI10 three times for a week and then injected with LPS. To evaluate the effects of PaH-HA at HI10, WBC count in blood, serum CINC-1, renal TNF-${\alpha}$ and renal MPO were measured. Results : Needle prick at KI10 suppressed the increase of WBC in blood and CINC-1 in serum of LPS-stimulated rats. Saline injection at KI10 suppressed the increase of WBC in blood. PaH-HA at KI10 suppressed the increase of WBC in blood, CINC-1 in serum, and MPO in kidney of LPS-stimulated rats. Conclusions : PaH-HA at KI10 has an anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced nephritis in rats and there may be a synergism between KI10(Umgok) stimulation and PaH-HA Solution.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.19-24
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how norepinephrine affects immunity in patients over age 65. Methods: We enrolled 25 male and female subjects age 65 or older. A low frequency electroacupuncture (EA) device was used to stimulate acupoint Hogu (L14). The 2 Hz frequency EA was applied to the acupoint for 20 minutes. Leukocyte subtypes-including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophil-were then measured. The immunoglobulins IgG and IgM were also quantified. The data were finally analyzed using Wilcoxon singed-rank test and regression test as part of the SPSS WIN v. 10.1 program. Results: As norepinephrine levels decreased after EA stimulation, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte levels increased, and eosinophil and neutrophils levels decreased. Neutrophil and monocyte levels did not change to a statistically significant degree, but eosinophil levels showed a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05). Immunoglobulin IgG showed a statistically significant increase (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that norepinephrine does affect immunity in persons over the age of 65. This indicates that there is an interaction between the nervous system and the immune system, and interaction that plays a crucial roles in the body's immune resistance and homeostasis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.92-99
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• 2002

Objectives : To investigate the role of Meridian flow on acupuncture effect, we observed the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) after Meridian blocking with pressure in arthritic rats. Methods : To make reliable and local monoarthritis, $40{\;}{\mu}l$ complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into the tibio-tarsal joint. EA was applied on acupoint GB30 while 5 Pascal pressure was added to the middle of the Gall bladder Meridian around GB31 between acupoint GB30 and arthritic foci (ipsilateral meridian blocking: IB) or opposite part of IB (contralateral part blocking: CB). To observe the change of arthritis, extension and flexion pain scores and circumferential differences were evaluated once a week. Results : EA stimulation without blocking reduced arthritic pain significantly. IB abolished the acupuncture effects and there was no statistical difference with the arthritic control group, whereas the CB group still showed the therapeutic effects of acupuncture. Conclusions : This finding strongly supports that the Meridian blocking with local pressure reduced the therapeutic effect of EA.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.158-167
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• 2014

Objectives : The results from randomized controlled trials on traditional medicine have been negative or ambiguous. The appropriateness of the research methodology started to be questioned. However, the research methodology appropriate for studying traditional medicine has not been well-established. This study aims to explore the appropriate research methodologies for clinical studies on acupuncture. Methods : Clinical researches evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture for back pain were systematically searched and evaluated focusing on research methodology. The acupuncture treatment protocol is evaluated by 9 items which is individual treatment based on diagnosis, combining proximal and distal acupoints, exact location of acupoint, De Qi, adequate stimulation, duration of acupuncture, treatment sessions, treatment interval, and establishing relationship between patients and doctors. Results : Systematic review of acupuncture researches on low back pain suggested that observational studies and pragmatic trials rather than explanatory studies could incorporate these elements. Qualitative studies also could help understanding complex characteristics of acupuncture treatment which could not be evaluated by quantitative studies. Conclusions : In designing clinical researches on acupuncture, various study designs, especially observational study and pragmatic study, should be considered according to research objectives and subjects. The efforts to incorporate the core characteristics of acupuncture practiced in everyday clinical setting are also essential.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.300-311
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• 2021

Background: So far there is no confidence in the basics of acupoint/meridian phenomena, specifically in spatial and temporal electrical manifestations in the skin. Methods: Using the skin electrodynamic introscopy, the skin areas of 32 × 64 mm² were monitored for spectral electrical impedance landscape with spatial resolution of 1 mm, at 2 kHz and 1 MHz frequencies. The detailed baseline and 2D test-induced 2 kHz-impedance phase dynamics and the 4-parameter time plots of dozens of individual points in the St32-34 regions were examined in a healthy participant and a patient with mild gastritis. Non-thermal stimuli were used: (1) (for the sick subject), microwaves and ultraviolet radiation applied alternately from opposite directions of the meridian; and (2) (for the healthy one) microwaves to St17, and cathodic/anodic stimulation of the outermost St45, alternately. Results: In both cases, the following phenomena have been observed: emergence of in-phase and/or antiphase coherent structures, exceeding the acupoint conditional size of 1 cm; collective movement along the meridian; reversible with a reversed stimulus; counter-directional dynamics of both whole structures and adjacent points; local abnormalities in sensitivity and dynamics of the 1 MHz and 2 kHz parameters indicating existence of different waveguide paths. Conclusion: It is assumed that these findings necessitate reconsideration of some basic methodological issues regarding neurogenic/acupuncture points as spatial and temporal phenomena; this requires development of an appropriate approach for identifying the acuzones patterns. These findings may be used for developing new approaches to personalized/controlled therapy/treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.199-205
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• 2006

Objectives : The present study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic effects of automatically controlled heating acupuncture(ACHA) using 2 different pain models(acute pain and neuropathic pain) and 2 different stimulation conditions (heating $41.5^{\cdot}C$ and heating $44.5^{\cdot}C$) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : Tail flick latency(TFL) to a noxious radiant heat stimulus in lightly anesthetized rats was measured before and after ACHA stimulation for 5-min at the Zusanli(ST36) acupoint. For the neuropathic surgery, the right superior caudal trunk was resected at the level between S1 and S2 spinal nerves innervating the tail. Two weeks after the nerve injury, ACHA stimulation($41.5^{\cdot}C$ or $44.5^{\cdot}C$) was delivered to Zusanli(ST36) for 5 min. The behavioral signs of warm allodynia were evaluated by the tail immersion test (i.e. immersing the tail in warm $water(40^{\cdot}C)$ and measuring the latency to an abrupt tail movement) before and after the ACHA stimulation. Results : In the TFL test, ACHA stimulations under both the conditions above produced more potent analgesic effects than plain acupuncture(PA, acupuncture needle insertion only) and control(no treatment). In the tail immersion test, ACHA stimulations under all of the conditions had markedly relieved the warm allodynia signs. Conclusion : Automatically controlled heating acupul1cture produced analgesic effecs in acute and neuropathic pains.