• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.69-79
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• 2004

Objective : Acupuncture has been used for treatment of numerous disorders, especially for pain control in Oriental Medicine. However, the mechanism of pain control by acupuncture was not clear until now. This study was performed to prove analgesic mechanism of acupuncture treatment at acupoint $ST_{36}$ by observing the changes of abdominal pain and c-Fos expression in the thalamus. Methods : Abdominal pain was induced by acetic acid, and the changes of writhing reflex after acupuncture treatment on $ST_{36}$ and non-acupoints were measured. c-Fos immunohistochemistry was also performed to study the changes of the neuronal activity in the thalamus. Results : The writhing reflex decrease significantly after acupuncturing at $ST_{36}$ compared with control group(p<0.05). The changes of the writhing reflex by non-acupoint acupuncture treatment also showed significant decrease compared with control group(p<0.05). c-Fos expression in the thalamus, especially periventricular part was significantly decreased after acupuncturing as $ST_{36}$ compared with control groups(p<0.05). Conclusion : This study shows that the acupuncture has the analgesic effect in the abdominal pain induced by acetic acid and the thalamus might be a important area for this mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.27-38
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• 2009

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, principally characterized by synovial inflammation of the joints. We previously reported the effect of acupuncture for RA, but the mechanism is still unclear. Various factors such as oxidative stress and angiogenesis were involved in the pathogenesis of RA, and recently, it has also been reported that cytokines also play a major role in RA. Thus, we investigated whether acupuncture could induce any changes in the levels of cytokines including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) as well as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein (CRP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) in the sera of RA patients. Methods: The forty three patients who met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for RA recruited. The acupuncture group (n=21) underwent 14 sessions of partially individualized acupuncture treatment for 6 weeks, and the control group had no treatment (n=13) over the same periods. We evaluated ESR, CRP and RF. In addition, to find out the mechanism of acupuncture, we assessed the changes of the cytokine activities using protein cytokine array in the sera of the patients. Results: Acupuncture significantly decreased the levels of ESR and CRP, but RF were not changed after 6-week acupuncture treatments. Moreover, acupuncture reduced the levels of VEGF, angiogenin and EGF in the sera of the patients. Interestingly, they were related with angiogenesis, which is an important process in the pathogenesis of RA. The levels of oncostatin, interleukin(IL)-$1{\alpha}$, IL-8, leptin, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, macrophage-derived chemokine, macrophage inflammatory proteins-1, platelet-derived growth factor BB and RANTES were not changed significantly. Conclusions: The effect of acupuncture for reliving RA symptoms can be partially explained by inhibition of angiogenesis factors in the sera of the RA patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.235-248
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• 2004

It has been investigated about aging theory. However, aging mechanism still remains to be unknown. Aging and aging related diseases might be due to oxidative damage and these were modifiable by genetic and environmental factors. For designing an optimal medical treatment and countermeasure against aging and aging related disease, it is necessary to understand the aging mechanism. Acetylcholine(Ach) plays an important role in memory. If someone doesn't have enough Ach, he has a tendency to catch a Alzheimer's disease. Corydalis tuber has been clinically used to treat heart disease, gastrointestinal disease and other diseases including endocrine disease in Oriental medicine. The purpose of this article is to investigate the inhibitory effect on Acetylcholinesterase and scavenging effects on NO, DPPH of Corydalis tuber Acua-acupuncture solution(CTAS). The results are summerised as follows; 1. There is a significant inhibitory effect of $0.01mg/m{\ell}$ CTAS group at 20, 30, 60 minutes and $0.1mg/m{\ell}$ CTAS group at 10, 20, 30, 60 minutes on AchE. 2. There is no significant scavenging effect of CTAS on NO. 3. There is a significant scavenging effect of $0.1mg/m{\ell}$ and $0.01mg/m{\ell}$ CTAS group at 10 minutes but there is no significant scavenging effect at 20, 30, 60 minutes on DPPH. There is a significant scavenging effect of $1mg/m{\ell}$ CTAS group at 10, 20, 30, 60 minutes on DPPH.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.135-143
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was performed to observe effect of acupuncture stimulation on heart rate variability in stroke patients. Methods : Data were obtained from heart rate variability of 29 stroke patients. Heart rate variability was measured total five times(before and after needle insertion, before and after needle removal, and 10 minutes after needle removal) for five minutes each time. Results : Heart rates were continuously decreased until 10 minutes after needle removal. SDNN, Total power, LF, and HF were increased until 5 minutes after needle removal, but deceased between 5 and 10 minutes after needle removal. There was no significant changes between male and female and among age groups. Conclusion : This study showed that acupuncture stimulation could effect on heart rate variability in stroke patients. Heart rate variability could be a objective tool to verify the mechanism of acupuncture effect in various condition.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.88-99
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture for treating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Methods: Based on domestic and international papers reported until October 2020, experimental papers on "chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy", "mechanism", and "acupuncture" were set up to identify the mechanisms of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. A total of seven papers were selected and searched: one pilot paper for people and six experimental papers for rats. Results: In the pilot paper studied by Bao, T., the effect of EA was demonstrated but no significant results were produced for the mechanism. Moon et al. derived the association between EA and plasma 𝛽-endorphin in rat experimental studies on oxalilatin-induced cold hypersensitivity. Meng et al. found relevance to 𝜇, 𝛿, and 𝛿 opioid through EA stimulation in paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. Lee et al. studied the relationship between EA and muscarin and 5-HT in rat experiments on oxaliplatin-induced coldness, associated with 5-HT and EA, especially with 5-HT3 receptors. Choi et al. revealed the association of adrenaline and opioid acting on 𝛼2- and 𝛽 adrenaline receptors with EA in rat experiments on paclitaxel-induced neuralgia. In rat experiments on oxaliplatin-induced neuralgia reported by Lee, 𝛽-endorphin and encephalin were studied to be mediated by EA. Zhang, T. et al. revealed in the paclitaxel induced rat experiment that EA activates 5-HT. Conclusion: It is inferred that peripheral neuropathy caused by anticancer drugs can be reduced by activating the action of 5-HT, 𝛽-endorphin, and encephalin through the descending inhibitory pathways. cell differentiation, herbal medicine, Pongamia, stem cells

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.77-90
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• 2006

Objectives : To evaluate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on Choksamni (ST36) in the collagen-induced arthritis rats and investigate the role played by serotonergic receptor subtypes $(5-HT_{1A},\;5-HT_{1B},\;5-HT_4)$ in the antinociceptive effect of electroacupuncture in the thermal hyperalgesia test. Methods : Immunization of male Sprague-Dawley rats with bovine type II collagen emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, followed by booster injection 14 days later induced collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The thermal hyperalgesia was evaluated weekly with tail flick latency (TFL). In the fourth week after first immunization. EA stimulation (2Hz, 0.07mA, 0.3ms) was delivered into Choksamni for 20 minutes. We measured the analgesic effect of EA with TFL afer intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, WAYl00635, SB216641 and GR125487. Results : TFLs were gradually decreased in CIA as time elapsed after the immunization of arthrogenic collagen and the maximum value was reached from third to fifth week. EA stimulation on ST36 inhibited chronic inflammatory pain induced by CIA. The analgesic effect of EA was inhibited by pretreatment of $5-HT_{1A}$. antagonist (WAYl00635), $5-HT_{1B}$ antagonist (SB216641) and $5-HT_4$ antagonist (GR125487). Conclusion : Electroacupuncture has the analgesic effect on chronic inflammatory pain and its mechanism was mediated by $5-HT_{1A}$, $5-HT_{1B}$ and $5-HT_4$.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.51-62
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• 2004

Objective: To investigate the analgesic effect and its serotonergic mechanism, especially related with 5-HTI and 5-HT2 receptor, of electroacupuncture(EA) in the rat model of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA). Methods : Immunization of male Sprague-Dawley rats with bovine type II (C II) collagen emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant, followed by a booster injection 14 days later, leads to development of arthritis in more than 70% of rats by 21 days postinjection. After three weeks of first immunization, EA stimulation(2 Hz, 0.07 mA, 0.3 ms) was delivered into Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) for 30 minutes. Analgesic effect was evaluated by tail flick latency(TFL). We compared the analgesic effect of EA with TFLs between pretreatment of normal saline and pretreatment of spiroxatrine (5-HT1 receptor antagonist, 1mg/kg, intraperitoneal) and spiperone (5-HT2 receptor antagonist, 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in CIA. Results : 1. TFLs were gradually decreased in CIA as increasing severity of arthritis. 2. Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA stimulation in CIA increased TFLs and the effect lasted for 60 minutes. 3. Increased TFLs with Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA stimulation were inhibited by pretreatment of spiroxatrine and spiperone in CIA. Conclusions : Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA showed analgesic effects in CIA The analgesic effects of Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA were inhibited by spiroxatrine and spiperone pretreatment. These observations suggest that 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 serotonergic receptor, which involve the release of serotonin neurotransmitter, play an important roles in analgesic mechanism of EA stimulation.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.87-101
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• 2009

Objectives : LI5 and SP6 have been used with a limit in ovary-related disease. But there is few study about the history, the reason, and the mechanism. So, this study was performed to review the literatures related with Eumyangyichonghyul and find the clinical usefulness of that. Methods : 1. The authors reviewed several literatures related with the Eumyangyichonghyul and some scientific studies. 2. We investigated the history and meaning of that, and the relation between the results of scientific studies and the function of that. 3. We found the usefulness based on ancient literatures and scientific studies. Results and Conclusions : 1. Eumyangyichonghyul has been prohibition of acupuncture since had been written on "Dong In Su Hyul Chim Gu Do Gyung". 2. Eumyangyichonghyul could suppress the fetus like as it promotes the delivery. 3. The explanations of ancient literatures and the scientific studies are very similar in viewpoint of whole body mechanism.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.150-155
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• 2023

Drug-induced dyskinesia is an involuntary muscle movement caused by various dopamine receptor-blocking drug exposure, such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, and antiemetics. Causative drug removal is the main treatment for drug-induced dyskinesia whenever possible because its pathophysiology lacks a universally accepted mechanism; however, the symptoms can persist for years or decades in many patients even after causative drug removal. Herein, we present a case of drug-induced dyskinesia in a 61-year-old female patient who consumed medication for approximately 10 years for her depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Cervical and facial dyskinesia was suggested to be related to perphenazine and levosulpiride administration. The patient received acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, and chuna treatment for 81 days during hospitalization. The symptoms were evaluated using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale, Tsui's score, and Numeric Rating Scale, which revealed remarkable improvement, suggesting the effectiveness of combined Korean medicine for drug-induced dyskinesia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.111-125
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• 2007

Objection : The aim of this study was to investigate anti-ischemic effect of LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture. Methods : I designed to investigate whether LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture affects cerebral hemodynamics [regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF), pial arterial diameter(PAD), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) ] in normal and cerebral ischemia rats by MCA occlusion method, and to make manifest whether LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture is mediated by cyclooxygenase or guanylate cyclase. The changes of rCBF and MABP were determinated by laser-doppler flowmetry(LDF), and the change of PAD was determinated by video microscope and width analyzer. Results: The results were as follows ; 1. LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture was significantly increased rCBF, PAD, but decreased MABP after withdrawing of the needle. This results suggest that LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture induced significantly rCBF by dilating PAD. 2. Pretreatment with indomethacin (1mg/kg, i.v.) was significantly inhibited LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture induced increase of rCBF and PAD, but increased LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture induced decrease of MABP after withdrawing of the needle. 3. Pretreatment with methylene blue(10/${\mu}$g/kg, i.v.) was decreased LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture induced increase of rCBF and MABP, but accelerated LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture induced decrease of PAD. This results suggest that the mechanism of LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture is mediated by cyclooxygenase or guanylate cyclase. Conclusion : I suggest that LR1 ${\cdot}$ HT8 ${\cdot}$ HT9 Reinforcement in Acupuncture has an anti-ischemic effect through the improvement of cerebral hemodynamics, and the mechanism IS mediated by cyclooxygenase.