• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.133-160
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• 2006

Objectives : Scolopendrae Corpus has a broad array of clinical applications in Korean medicine, including treatment of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. To explore the global gene expression profiles in human Raw cell lines treated with Scolopendrae Corpus herbal-acupuncture solution (SCHAS), cDNA microarray analysis was performed. Methods : The Raw 264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), SCHAS, or both. The primary data was normalized by the total spots of intensity between two groups, and then normalized by the intensity ratio of reference genes such as housekeeping genes in both groups. The expression ratio was converted to log2 ratio. Normalized spot intensities were calculated into gene expression ratios between the control and treatment groups. Greater than 2 fold changes between two groups were considered to be of significance. Results : Of the 8 K genes profiled in this study, with a cut-off level of two-fold change in the expression, 20 genes (BCL2-related protein A1, MARCKS-like 1, etc.) were upregulated and 5 genes (activated RNA polymerase II transcription cofactor 4, calcium binding atopy-related autoantigen 1, etc.) downregulated following LPS treatment. 139 genes (kell blood group precursor (McLeod phenotype), ribosomal protein S7, etc.) were upregulated and 42 genes (anterior gradient 2 homolog (xenopus laevis), phosphodiesterase 8B, etc.) were downregulated following SCHAS treatment. And 10 genes (yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae intergeneic sequence 4-1, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, etc.) were upregulated and 8 genes (spermatid perinuclear RNA binding protein, nuclear receptor binding protein 2, etc.) were downregulated following co-stimulation of SCHAS and LPS. Discussions : It is thought that microarrays will play an ever-growing role in the advance of our understanding of the pharmacological actions of SCHAS in the treatment of arthritis. But further studies are required to concretely prove the effectiveness of SCHAS.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2013

Objectives : To observe the changes in the expression of nNOS, iNOS, eNOS and NO by the needle insertion on river points, one of the five transport points of three yang meridians of the foot. Methods : Based on rats, needle was inserted on both left and right sides of ST41, BL60 and GB38 and retained for five minutes. After the retention, blood was drawn via cardiac puncture and tissues from each point around meridian vessels were extracted to observe the changes in the expression of nNOS, iNOS, eNOS and NO. Results : In terms of the effect on expression of nNOS within tissues, ST41 showed significant decrease based on the results of immunohistochemistry. In terms of the effect on expression of iNOS within tissues, none of the experimental groups showed any significant change compared to the Normal group. Regarding expression of eNOS within tissues, GB38 showed significant increase based on the results of immunohistochemistry. In terms of the effect on NO creation in tissues, none of the experimental groups showed any significant change compared to the Normal group. Conclusions : The effect of needle insertion on the river points of three yang meridians of the foot on the function of nNOS, iNOS, eNOS and NO could be observed, and based on this study, it is considered that the effect of needle stimulation on the changes of nervous system could be found out through additional research.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.43-53
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• 2022

Objectives : Paeonia lactiflora Pallas (PLP) have been reported to have pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory and analgesic. However, it is not yet known whether PLP extract has anti-inflammatory effect on HaCaT cells, human keratinocyte. Methods : To confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of PLP on keratinocyte, TNF-𝛼/IFN-𝛾-stimulated HaCaT cells were used. HaCaT cells were pre-treated with PLP for 1h before stimulation with TNF-𝛼/IFN-𝛾. Then HaCaT cells were stimulated with TNF-𝛼/IFN-𝛾 for 24 h, the cells and media were harvested to measure the inflammatory cytokines levels. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1𝛽), and TNF-𝛼 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the mRNA expression of thymus and activation-regulated chemokines (TARC), IL-6, and IL-8 were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We also investigated the inhibitory mechanism of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) including ERK, JNK, and p38 and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-𝜅B) by PLP using western blot. Results : PLP did not show cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells. In TNF-𝛼/IFN-𝛾-stimulated HaCaT cells, PLP significantly inhibited the expression of GM-CSF, MCP-1 IL-1𝛽, TNF-𝛼, TARC and IL-6. PLP inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and translocation of NF-𝜅B into the nucleus. Conclusions : These results indicate that PLP could ameliorate the TNF-𝛼/IFN-𝛾-stimulated inflammatory response through inhibition of MAPK and NF-kB signal pathway. This suggests that PLP could be used beneficial agent to improve skin inflammation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2024

Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental health condition, and techniques using sensory stimulation in processing traumatic memories have gained attention. The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a psychotherapy that combines tapping on acupoints with exposure to cognitive reframing. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of EFT as a treatment for PTSD by answering the following research questions: 1) What is the compliance and completion rate of patients with PTSD with regard to EFT protocol? Is the dropout rate reasonable? 2) Is the effect size of EFT protocol for PTSD sufficient to justify a future trial? Methods: Thirty participants diagnosed with PTSD were recruited. They received weekly EFT sessions for five weeks, in which they repeated a statement acknowledging the problem and accepting themselves while tapping the SI3 acupoint on the side of their hand. PTSD symptoms were evaluated using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) before and after the intervention. Results: Of the 30 PTSD patients (mean age: 34.1 ± 9.1, 80% female), 96.7% showed over 80% compliance to the EFT sessions, and 86.7% completed the entire study process. The mean PCL-5 total score decreased significantly after the intervention, with a large effect size (change from baseline: -14.33 [95% CI: -19.79, -8.86], p < 0.0001, d = 1.06). Conclusion: The study suggests that EFT is a feasible treatment for PTSD, with high session compliance and low dropout rates. The effect size observed in this study supports the need for a larger trial in the future to further investigate EFT as a treatment for PTSD. However, the lack of a control group and the use of a self-rated questionnaire for PTSD symptoms are limitations of this study. The findings of this pilot study can be used to plan a future trial.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.77-90
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• 2005

Objective : Neuropathic pain sometimes arises from a partial peripheral nerve injury. This kind of pain is usually accompanied by spontaneous burning pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. It has been well known that acupuncture is effective to the pain control from ancient time in Asia. However, it is not clear whether Electroacupuncture(EA) & Acupuncture(AC) can control neuropathic pain effectively. The aim of this study is to examine if Electroacupuncture&Acupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03), Wijung(BL4O), Hu-gye(SI03) Wijung(BL40) may be effective to the neuropathic pain (mechanical allodynia cold allodynia) in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods : A rat model of neuropathic pain was made by injurying tibial nerve and sural nerve while common peroneal nerve was maintained. After the neuropathic surgery, we examined if the rats exhibited the behavioral signs allodynia. The allodynia was assessed by stimulating the medial malleolus with von frey filament and acetone. Three weeks after the neuropathic surgery, electroacupuncture &, acupuncture stimulation was delivered to Hu-gye(SI03), Wijung(BL40), Hu-gye(SI03) Wijung(BL40) one time a day for one week. After that we examined the withdrawal response of neuropathic rats' legs by von frey filament and acetone stimulation, c-fos and AchE(Acetylcholine esterase) in the periaqe- ductal gray(PAG) of neuropathic rats' brain. Results : 1. Electroacupuncture&Acupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03), Wijung(BL40), Hu-gye(SI03) Wijung(BL4O) significantly decreased the withdrawal response of mechanically allodynia in EA-BL40+SI03 group and AC-SI03 group as compared with control group on 6th day. 2. Electroacupuncture &Acupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03), Wijung(BL40), Hu-gye (SI03) Wijung (BL40) significantly decreased the withdrawal response of chemical allodynia(cold allodynia) in EA-SI03 group, EA-BL40+SI03 group and AC-SI03 group as compared with control group on 6th day. 3. Electroacupuncture & Acupuncture at Hu-gye ( SI03), Wijung (BL40), Hu-gye (SI03) Wijung(BL40) significantly decreased the expression of c-fos in the periaqe- ductal gray(PAC) of neuropathic rats' brain in EA-BL40+SI03 group and AC-SI03 group as compared with control group. 4. Electroacupuncture&Acupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03), Wijung(BL40), Hu-gye (SI03) Wijung(BL40) significantly decreased the expression of AchE in the periaqe- ductal gray(PAG) of neuropathic rats' brain in EA-BL40+SI03 group and AC-SI03 group as compared with control group. Conclusions : Based on the above results it is assumed that Electroacupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03) Wijung(BL40) and Acupuncture at Hu-gye(SI03) can help the treatment of neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.118-132
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• 2003

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Joksamni(ST36) combination on NAD PH-diaphorase, neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS), neuropeptide Y(NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the cerebral cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rat. Methods: The experimental groups were divided into four groups: Normal, Joksamni(ST36), Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9), and Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11). Needles were inserted into acupoints at the depth of 0.5cm with basic insertion method. Electroacupuncture was done under the condition of 2Hz electrical biphasic pulses with continuous rectangular wave lasting for 0.2ms until the muscles produced visible contractions. Such stimulation was applied continuously for 10 minutes, 1 time every 2 days for 10 sessions of treatments. Thereafter we evaluated changes in NADPH-d positive neurons histochemically and changes in nNOS, NPY and VIP positive neurons immunohistochemically. Results: The optical densities of NADPH-d positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group in all areas of cerebral cortex and Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group in primary somatosensory cortex, visual cortex, auditory cortex, perirhinal cortex were significantly increased as compared to the Joksamni(ST36) group. The optical densities of NADPH-d positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group were significantly decreased as compared to the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group with the exception of primary somatosensory cortex. The optical densities of nNOS positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group in all areas of cerebral cortex and Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group in auditory cortex, perirhinal cortex, insular cortex were significantly increased as compared to the Joksamni(ST36) group. The optical densities of nNOS positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group were significantly decreased in all areas of cerebral cortex as compared to the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group. The optical densities of NPY positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group were significantly decreased in primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, cingulate cortex as compared to the Joksamni (ST36) and Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) groups. The optical densities of VIP positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group were significantly increased in all areas of cerebral cortex except for cingulate cortex as compared to the Joksamni(ST36) group. The optical densities of VIP positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group were significantly decreased in auditory cortex, cingulate cortex, perirhinal cortex as compared to the Joksamni(ST36) group. The optical densities of VIP positive neurons of the Joksamni(ST36)+Gokji(LI11) group were significantly decreased in all areas of cerebral cortex as compared to the Joksamni(ST36)+Eumneungcheon(SP9) group. Conclusions: The result demonstrated that electroacupuncture on Joksamni(ST36) and its combination change the activities of the NO system and peptidergic system in the cerebral cortex of SHR and that acupoint combination is one of the important parameters for the effects.