• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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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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• v.20 no.4
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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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• v.18 no.2
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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.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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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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• v.27 no.3
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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.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.79-87
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• 2019

This study examined how the application of silver spike point (SSP) and acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (A-TENS) on acupoints affects blood flow and pain threshold, using laser Doppler blood fluxes and the Commander algometer. Our study included 32 healthy men and women who were randomly divided into the SSP group (n=18) and the A-TENS group (n=14). The pain threshold and blood flow were measured at the Neiguan (PC6) of the Jueyin Pericardium Meridian of the hand. SSP was performed with a 2.8cm electrode at a fixed frequency of 3 Hz for 15 minutes. The change in blood flow and pain threshold after the intervention significantly differed between the two groups (p<0.05). We found that the application of SSP and A-TENS on an acupoint altered their blood flow and pressure pain threshold, with SSP resulting in significantly greater change than A-TENS. Based on these results, the convergence of acupoint and electrical stimulation therapy can be usefully applied as a method for various patients. Continued development of convergence interventions is necessary.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.4
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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.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.7 no.1 s.12
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• pp.22-31
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• 2003

Conventional stimulus patterns have used DC for discrimination of acupoint and meridian which is the basic object of diagnosis and medical treatment in oriental medicine. Those discriminate conduction points by stimulation on body skin with DC. But, it is insufficient to reliability in discrimination ratio, coincident ratio, body effect, reproductivity. Therefore, this paper has extracted the optimal parameter of frequency and waveform in order to improve conventional pattern, and proposed the SPAC(Single Power Alternative Current) stimulus pattern applying that. Also, We proposes algorithm which is able to discriminate with low pressure of the electrode by displaying in the level meter both the absolution and relation value of the skin current. It can decrease pain and body effect by electrode pressure and discriminate acupoint regardless of skin current in difficult discrimination spot. We have compared the performance of system applying the extracted optimal parameter and algorithm. We have compared discrimination, coincident ratio of both conduction point and traditional acupoints by acupoint stimulation pattern. In the results, we confirmed reliability of SPAC stimulus pattern.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.4
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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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• 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.