• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.97-108
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• 2010

Background : The location of acupoints on rat, which may differ from that of human body due to anatomical structure, is defined variously among researchers, which may cause the problem of low repeatability and objectivity. Design : The measurement of hind limb consist of measuring the distance between knee joint and tibia tubercle in order to set the knee joint as common criteria. Based on it, the three mostly referred location of ST36 were represented with the knee joint as a datum point and compared. The electroacupuncture stimulation was administrated after the abdominal pain was induced by acetic acid. And the analgesic activity of each ST36 acupoint was evaluated by measuring the number of writhing reflex, in order to observe the differences of treatment effect in accordance with the location of ST36 acupoints. Results : The result of measurement confirmed the differences in the acupoint location of ST36 among researchers. The writhing reflex test using the acetic acid-induced abdominal pain stimulated with electroacupuncture of 100Hz showed that there were statistically significant differences in the analgesic effect between control group and three ST36 groups (P<0.05). However there were no differences observed among three mostly referred location of ST36 acupoints (P>0.05). Conclusions : We recommend "the point located 6.5 mm below the knee joint at the anterior tibial muscle" as a standard ST36 acupoint location qualified by the WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in 2008.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1-19
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• 2004

Objectives : To understanding biological mechanism of acupuncture therapy, we have proposed a hypothesis. First of all, there exists electric property in meridian and meridian point. Second of all, energy flowing in meridian is related with electric property. Third of all, there is electronic interaction between the operator who performs acupuncture therapy and the receiver who is given acupuncture therapy. Forth of all, acupuncture effects may depend on the electric capacity which is transferred between the operator and the receiver via acupuncture needle. Methods : Under the hypothesis, we studied the effects of electric change in $ST_{37}(+)\;and\;ST_{39}(-)$ generated by Tanchim (彈鍼) manipulation which was stimulated at $ST_{36}$ point. And compared with data on the changes of electric change from the hand of the operator during acupuncture stimulation. Electric charge induced via acupuncture needle from the operator may be important factor that causes the changes of electric change in meridian and acupoint in the receiver. Therefore we investigated the changes of electric charge induced by the operator using Maclab 400 by the following methods. The one was in stable electric circle condition and the other was in unstable electric circle condition. Results : In this experiments, the changes of electric change from the stimulation type of Tanchim manipulation performed in our lab condition in acupuncture therapy was induced at least three factor, one was the difference of bio-potentials between the operator and the receiver of acupuncture therapy, another was the depth of acupuncture insertion from the skin of the receiver, the other was an electromyogram of the receiver. Conclusion : The data imply that the first factor should make a capacitance current when the operator touched the acupuncture needle which was inserted in the receiver. Therefore, the results suggest that capacitance currents stimulus in electronic view may be important factor in acupuncture therapy between the operator and the receiver of acupuncture therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.130-138
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• 2000

Objectives : When sweating factor is excluded, to know the influence of acupuncture stimulation on electrical resistance. Methods : Regional anaesthesia(Lidocane 2%, 1ml, Subcutaneous injection) is applied to measured regions, 4cm round area including left Neiguan P6. So we can make adiaphoresis. Before and after acupucnture stimulation to Laogong P8, we measured the electrical resistance of anesthetized left Neiguan P6, anesthetized non-acupoint, normal left Ximen P4, and normal right Neiguan P6. For measurment, we use the 1.2V, DC system that has 100$k{\Omega}$ internal resistance Results : Under the adiaphoresis, Acupuncture stimulation makes the significant decrease of electrical resistance. In normal regions, so does it. Conclusions : When the acupuncture stimulation is applied to human boby, the decrease of electrical resistance is due not only to sweat secretion but also to other internal resistance.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2003

Acupuncture has been used as a clinical treatment in Oriental medicine for various diseases. In the present study was carried out to investigate the effects of acupuncture and electrical stimulation on the change neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS) immunoreactive cells in the periaqueductal gray(PAG) area of the male SD rats. Enhanced expression of nNOS was detected in the dorsolateral-PAG(DL-PAG) area of rat with stress by fixed body, and acupuncture and needle electrode electrical stimulation groups at Hapgok like acupoint decreased the stress-induced enhancement in the expression of nNOS. The present results demonstrate that acupuncture and needle electrode electrical stimulation is effective in the modulation of expression of nNOS in the DL-PAG area under stress conditions.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.210-220
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• 2019

Objectives : Warm needling is a combined treatment technique of acupuncture and moxibustion. In this study, we aimed to find out the components related with the thermal stimulation of the warm needling and to provide basic data for the guideline of the warm needling technique in the clinic. Methods : In this study, we measured thermal change of 3% agarose phantom embedding K-type thermocouples in depths of 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mm. The warm needling was performed with acupuncture needles of various specifications (0.50×30, 0.50×40, 0.30×30, 0.30×40, 0.20×30 and 0.20×40 mm). A linear regression analysis was performed to find out the major component and quantify the effectiveness of the thermal stimulation during warm needling. Results : As a result of the measurement of temperature change, we could observe the thermal change pattern from the surface of the phantom to the 16mm deep part of the phantom. The thermal pattern was similar among the needles of different specifications. The regression analysis pointed the distance between the moxa cautery and the skin surface as the main component for the thermal stimulation of the warm needling. Conclusions : The authors suggest considering the distance between moxa cautery and the skin rather than the diameter of the acupuncture needle in accordance to the result of the study.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2011

Objectives : Cupping therapy has been used as various treatment methods in oriental medicine clinic for a long time. Specially, Cupping stimulation caused skin hyperpigmentation which has been used as diagnosis method for extravasated blood & inner organs functional disease. But it was difficult to quantitatively measure and analyze the interrelation between extravasated blood and skin hyperpigmentation. The aim of this study is to measure the acupoint's RGB and melanin change pattern by stimulating under fixed 80kPa negative pressure and to evaluate the extravasated blood. Methods : To evaluate extravasated blood, 10 acupoints (left/right BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23) were stimulated by treatment 80kPa negative pressure for 1 minute. And then we measured the acupoints' skin color change patterns using the color meter, followed by RGB analysis and melanin change pattern. Results and Conclusions : We could observe the correlation of the acupoints' skin color condition related with RGB change pattern. All acupoints' color change degree were different. Regardless of acupoints' color degree due to extravasated blood, we observed in common the fact that RGB values decreased after stimulation and steadily increased according to time. We observed that melanin index increased after stimulation and recovered before stimulation-condition after the lapse of time. In other words, we confirmed the correlation between raised color change degree and $L^*a^*$ index change pattern. Therefore we observed the possibility of charting the $L^*a^*$ index following extravasated blood.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1231-1239
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• 2010

The aim of this study was developing the non-invasive focused magnetic stimulation system(NI_FMSS) that can stimulates acupoints which are small parts and knotted muscular tissues. To evaluate pain treatment effect of the NI_FMSS, we caused muscle fatigue to 25 subjects in biceps of the arm. Then, we stimulated acupoints(trigger points) HT2 using low frequency stimulator(10 subjects) and NI_FMSS(10 subjects). The other 5 subjects had not been stimulated. We analyzed muscle fatigue recovery with median frequency, RMS and median power in frequency domain for 5 days. We checked the magnetic stimulation effect on acupoint by evaluation of muscle fatigue recovery. Therefore, we identified that the NI_FMSS was more efficient system to relieve muscle pain than electric-stimulation system.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.1399-1410
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• 2009

It is a method to treat pain using medication, neurotomy, and surgery. And acupuncture, ultrasound, electric treatment, and magnetic treatment are applied as a alternative physiotherapy. Electronic therapy is useful but it can be affected by impedance of skin or subcutaneous tissue. So, percutaneous stimulation is leading therapy, that is very randomly. We developed the system which can stimulate parts of acupuncture point noninvasively using the focused magnetic field. And we designed the magnetic stimulation electrode which is considered efficiency of the magnetic stimulation. It can make similar stimulation with manual acupuncture. To confirm the availability and reliability we compared Meridian Electronic Potential(MEP) change between manual acupuncture and magnetic stimulation. From this result, we found out the MEP changes of manual acupuncture and magnetic stimulation were similar. And there were various response properties as changes of stimulation method, intensity, and frequency. Also, the MEP change can be induced by electromagnetic stimulation. We confirmed that it is possible to use electromagnetic stimulation as a acupoint stimulation or pain treatment instrument.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2001

Objective : There are many reports that acupuncture has thermoregulatory effects on human and animals. To investigate the effect and mechanism of antipyretic action of acupuncture, we observed the body temperature and cytokine expressions in the hypothalamus of rats. Methods : Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, i.p., 2.5mg/kg) was injected to conscious rats (Sprague-Dawley, male, n=4l) to cause hyperthermia and simple needling (stainless steel, 0.25 mm o.d., 5 mm insertion for 10 sec with no manipulation) was performed bilaterally with the measurement of rectal temperature. Next, we sacrificed rats to remove brain and determined the level of mRNA for interleukin-6 (IL-6), $interleukin-1{\beta}{\;}(IL-1{\beta})$, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and $interferon-{\gamma}{\;}(IFN-{\gamma})$ in the hypothalamus by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Resul1s : Needling on forepaw (acupoint HT8) and needling on hindpaw (acupoint BL66 and acupoint LR2) significantly inhibited LPS-induced fever of rats (P<0.01, 10 min after treatment respectively), but same treatment on proximal tail (non-acupoint) did not cause any change on fever. The levels of IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA in the hypothalamus was significantly enhanced by LPS-injection, while the level of IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA was markedly reduced after treatment on BL66 (P<0.01). Treatment on forepaw reduced it slightly, but not significantly. Equivalent stimulation on proximal tail did not cause any changes. Conclusions : Our results indicate that acupuncture stimulation on various body parts has differential thermoregulatory effects on LPS-induced fever of rats with site-specificity. And, we suggest that its antipyretic action might be accompanied with the suppression of hypothalamic production of pro-inflammatory cytokine of immune system, IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

Objectives : The object of this study is to evaluate and develop the system that reflects acupoints electrical properties by the multi-frequency using the SPAC (Single Power Alternative Current) stimulation method based on BIA (Bioelectrical impedance method). Methods : The 12 channel meridian impedance measurement system (MIMS) was designed, which sets multi-frequency with 10 steps (1~10kHz). To check acupoints electrical properties, impedance of acupoints were measured from 11 acupoints selected from the LU and ST meridians. Results : Regarding distribution of measurement values by multi-frequencies, we found the lowest response at 1kHz was in common. But frequency bands which represent the highest response at each acupoint were various. Measurement values of each acupoint by multi-frequencies were expressed similar distribution (P<0.05). Also we could check same frequency band which showed the highest response at left/right equal acupoints (P<0.05). Conclusions : Through change of acupoints electrical properties by multi-frequency stimulation, we checked oriental medical diagnostic possibilities by using this system. We would progress variable clinical trials with this system for oriental medical diagnosis.