• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.13-33
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• 2002

This study was examined for effects of acupuncture of Zusanli (ST36) on the facial thermography in health subjects. The volunteers who participating in this study had taken rest for 20 - 30 mins in room temperature (23-$25^{\circ}C$) before the examination and informed them what to prohibit smoking, drinking and administration of drug for the previous day. The thermography of face was taken using Infra-Red Imaging System (IR 2000, MEDI-CORE Co., Korea) by time interval of 15 minutes at 15 min before, just before and 15 min after, 30 min after and 45 min after acupuncture stimulation. Acupuncture was applied to the left ST36 for 30 mins. The results showed that acupuncture of ST36 significantly decreased the temperature of all the areas of facial surface comparing to those of control group. Also, it was observed that the quantities of thermal changes following acupuncture of ST36 been increased significantly at the A1, A4, A6, A7 and A9 ROIs (region of interest) comparing that of control group. Observed the thermography classified by ROI, it was clear the fact that acupuncture of ST36 could modulate the specific areas concerning to the facial pathway of Stomach Meridian, because the thermal responses following acupuncture of ST36 were specific at the A1, A2, A5 and A9 ROIs, relatively. These results suggest that acupuncture of ST36 may modulate thermal distributions and changes of facial areas concerned with Stomach Meridian.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.1-16
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• 2003

Objectives : This study was examined for effects of acupuncture of Hyeong points' Acupuncture of Three Foot-eum Collaterals on the abdominal thermography of health subject. Methods : The volunteers who participating in this study had taken rest for 20 - 30 minutes in room temperature $(23-25^{\circ}C)$ before the examination and informed them what to prohibit smoking, drinking and administration of drug for the previous day. The thermography of abdomen including a below part of the chest was taken using Infra-Red Imaging System (IR 2000, MEDI-CORE Co., Korea) by time interval of 15 minutes at 15 minutes before, just before and 15 minutes after, 30 minutes after and 45 minutes after acupuncture stimulation. Acupuncture was applied to the left Hyeong points' Acupuncture of Three Foot-eum Collaterals for 30 minutes. Results : The results showed that acupuncture of Hyeong points had more potencies of changes on all the ROIs of abdominal thermography than those of control group. Also, it was observed that the quantities of thermal changes following acupuncture of Hyeong points been increased comparing that of control group at all the ROIs (region of interest). Observed the thermography classified by ROI, however, it was failed that acupuncture of Hyeong points could modulate the specific areas concerning to the abdominal pathway of Three Foot-eum Collaterals. Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture of Hyeong points may modulate thermal distributions and changes of abdominal areas including the below of chest.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.121-127
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• 2014

Acupuncture is the process of stimulating skin regions called meridians or acupoints and has been used to treat pain-related symptoms. However, the pain-relieving effects of acupuncture may be different depending on acupoints. In the present study, the effects of acupuncture on behavioral responses and c-Fos expression were evaluated using a formalin test in male Sprague-Dawley rats in order to clarify the analgesic effects of three different acupoints. Each rat received manual acupuncture at the ST36 (Zusanli), SP9 (Yinlingquan) or BL60 (Kunlun) acupoint before formalin injection. Flinching and licking behaviors were counted by two blinded investigators. Fos-like immunoreactivity was examined by immunohistochemistry in the rat spinal cord. Manual acupuncture treatment at BL60 acupoint showed significant inhibition in flinching behavior but not in licking. Manual acupuncture at ST36 or SP9 tended to inhibit flinching and licking behaviors but the effects were not statistically significant. The acupuncture at ST36, SP9, or BL60 reduced c-Fos expression as compared with the control group. These results suggest that acupuncture especially at the BL60 acupoint is more effective in relieving inflammatory pain than other acupoints.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.1-15
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• 2018

Objectives: Cerebral ischemia results from a variety of causes that cerebral blood flow is reduced due to a transient or permanent occlusion of cerebral arteries. Reactive astrocytes and microglial activation plays an important role in the neuronal cell death during ischemic insult. Acupunctural treatment is effective for symptom improvement in cerebrovascular accident, including cerebral ischemia. Methods: In the present study, the effects of acupuncture at the ST40 acupoint on short-term memory and apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region following transient global cerebral ischemia were investigated using gerbils. Transient global ischemia was induced by occlusion of both common carotid arteries with aneurysm clips for 5 min. Acupuncture stimulation was conducted once daily for 7 consecutive days, starting one day after surgery. Results: In the present results, ischemia induction deteriorated short term memory, increased apoptosis, and induced reactive astrocyte and microglial activation. Acupuncture at ST40 acupoint ameliorated ischemia-induced short-term memory impairment by suppressing apoptosis in the hippocampus through down-regulation of reactive astrocytes and microglial activation. Conclusion: The present study suggests that acupuncture at the ST40 acupoint can be used for treatment of patients with cerebral stroke.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.67-78
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of the study is to draw a consensus in acupuncture point locations (APLs) which are frequently used in experimental animal studies. Well-documented APL is needed not only for human but also for rodents because stimulation of precise point is very important factor in acupuncture. Methods : We organized a committee with experts to reach a consensus on the APLs in rat. The subject points were limited to 22 points used in the papers published at international peer-review journals. To describe point locations, we adopted the syntax of sentence used in the WHO standard acupuncture point locations. Results : Locations of 22 acupuncture points such as ST36, LI4, PC6, and SP6 were described in English with photographic illustrations. Interestingly, we found that ST36 had been inserted into 2 different locations in rodent. Under consideration of practical use, the location of ST36 point was described in 2 different ways. Conclusion : We hope that newly developed APLs would be a good indicator of acupuncture experiments in rats and mice.

• 한국융합학회논문지
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• 제10권6호
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• pp.79-87
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• 2019

본 연구는 건강한 성인남녀를 대상으로 경혈지점에 은침전기자극과 침형 경피신경전기자극을 적용하여 혈류량과 통증 역치에 미치는 효과를 알아보고자 하였다. 성인남녀 32명을 대상으로 SSP group (n=18), A-TENS group (n=14)으로 무작위 배정하여 적용하였다. 혈류량을 측정하기 위해 레이저 도플러 영상을 사용하였고, 통증 역치를 측정하기 위해 압통측정기를 사용하였다. 집단 내 혈류량의 변화는 두 그룹 사이에서 유의한 차이가 있었고(p<0.05), 압통 역치의 변화는 SSP group에서만 유의한 차이가 있었다(p<0.05). 중재 후 집단 간 혈류량과 압통 역치의 변화에서는 SSP group과 TENS group 사이에서 유의한 차이가 있었다(p<0.05). 결과적으로 경혈지점에 SSP와 A-TENS을 적용한 결과 혈류량과 압통 역치의 변화가 있었으며, 특히 SSP을 경혈지점에 적용할 때 더욱 큰 변화를 볼 수 있었다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 경혈과 전기자극치료의 융합이 다양한 환자를 위한 방법의 하나로 유용하게 적용할 수 있으며, 지속적인 융합중재개발이 필요하다.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.135-145
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• 2006

Objectives and Methods : Using the 2-channel DROS SQUID (Korea Research Institute of Standards of Science, 1999), the present study was carried out to record changes elicited in the auditory cortex by acupuncture stimulus on right TE5 (Waiguan) and GB43 (Xiaxi). Needle-retention stimulation of TE5 and GB43 were done for acquiring the brain activities changed by acupuncture. Acupoint TE5 and GB43 is known to be effective for the treatment of ear-related disease, such as deafness and tinnitus, and to be suspected to be related to the auditory cortex. Auditory evoked magnetic fields were recorded hem the left hemisphere of five subjects, in response to contralateral ear stimulation by irregularly spaced 170 msec long 1kHz tone busts (Korea Research Institute of Standards of Science) Results and Conclusions : The result as follows. The latency and amplitude of SQUID MEG responses at the human auditory cortex changed by needle-retention condition on TE5 were 4msec and 9.2 fT, respectively, which were slower and smaller than those of no-acupuncture condition. The latency and amplitude of SQUID MEG responses at the human auditory cortex changed by needle-retention condition on GB43 were 7.2 msec and 1.6 fT, respectively, which were slower and larger than those of no-acupuncture condition. The latency of SQUID MEG responses at the human auditory cortex changed by needle-retention condition on GB43 condition was slower than that of TE5 acupuncture condition.

• 전기전자학회논문지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.22-31
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• 2003

한의학에서 진단과 치료의 기본 대상인 경혈?경락의 혈위 식별을 위한 방법으로 기존의 방식은 직류를 인체 피부에 자극하여 양도점을 식별하고 있다. 그러나 직류는 피부의 저항과 용량성으로 인한 시간에 따른 전류 감소현상을 나타내며, 이러한 시간적 감소현상은 경락진단의 변수로는 유의성을 가지나 식별율 및 부합율, 인체영향력, 재현성 등에서 식별데이터의 신뢰성이 충분하지 못한 단점이 있었다. 이를 개선하기 위하여 1.28V의 4kHz, 듀티비 40%의 구형파인 SPAC(Single Power Alternative Current) 자극방식의 최적 파라메터를 추출하였다. 또한 피부 상태에 관계없이 식별이 어려운 부위에서도 식별이 용이하도록 피부 전류량의 절대값과 상대값을 동시에 표시하고, 측정 전류량을 그래프로 연속 표시하여 식별에 유리하도록 하였다. 추출된 최적파라메터와 알고리즘을 적용한 시스템을 구현하여 경혈자극 방식에 따른 식별율, 재현성, 인체영향력 및 고전 경혈점과의 부합율을 비교하여 성능이 우수함을 확인하였다.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.119-132
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• 2008

Objectives : To compare the effects of low-frequency electro-acupuncture (EA) stimulation at left and right GB34s on hepatotoxicity in $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats. Methods : Rats were injected with $CCl_4$ and treated with 2 Hz electro-acupuncture (EA) at left and right GB34s for 15 minutes 3 times per week, for 10 weeks. Holder group, injected with $CCl_4$ and strained in a cylinder for same period as the EA group, was established to compare the hepatotoxicity against the two electroacupuncture groups. To estimate the effects of EA on hepatotoxicity in rats, body weight, liver weight and liver index were measured. Biochemical assays for serum ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol ; hematological analysis for RBC, WBC, PLT, hemoglobin, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes ; and histology analysis of liver tissue were also performed. Results : Lymphocyte level in blood was significantly decreased by $CCl_4$-intoxication, and increased by low-frequency electroacupuncture applied on both left and right GB34s. Low-frequency EA applied on right and left GB34s significantly reduced serum ALT and AST, both of which had been increased by $CCl_4$-intoxication. Conclusion : Low-frequency electroacupunctures at both left and right GB34s have hepatoprotective effects on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in rats. However, no significant differences were found between the effects of EAs at left and right GB34s.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제39권4호
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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.