• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.249-262
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical studies which focus on acupuncture's effect on anxiety disorder. Methods: We selected clinical studies through six databases. We then examined the characteristics of the selected studies and conducted an assessment for Risk of Bias (ROB). Results: Seventeen randomized-controlled trials were selected to determine the effects of acupuncture on anxiety disorders. We found that the risk of bias in most studies was unclear. The intervention of 7 seventeen randomized-controlled trials (RCT) was basic acupuncture, 8 RCT involved electric acupuncture, 2 RCT consisted of acupuncture and Moxibustion. Four of the 7 basic acupuncture RCTs and 5 of the 8 electric acupuncture RCTs had a significant effect on anxiety factors for anxiety disorders. Conclusions: Acupuncture treatment for anxiety disorders was found to be effective compared to the controls, or there was no difference in effectiveness compared to the controls. However, the quality of the included studies was low, and there only were a small number of studies. Therefore, well-designed studies and a greater number of the studies are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.112-135
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• 2022

Objectives: The objective of this study was to summarize clinical studies conducted over the last five years that investigated the effect of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease and to propose a better process of study. Methods: Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Korea Studies Information Service (KISS), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were systemically searched for clinical trials that had investigated the effect of acupuncture on the course of Parkinson's disease from May 2016 to April 2021. Results: A total of 23 studies met all the inclusion criteria. In most reports, acupuncture had significant positive effects on the course of Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, there were no serious adverse events associated with acupuncture in any of the studies. In addition to the acupuncture methods that showed effectiveness in previous studies, various types of acupuncture have been used to treat sub-symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The outcome measures were subdivided through individual symptom evaluation and mechanical analysis. Follow-up assessments were also performed to analyze the continuous effect. Conclusion: In the clinical studies conducted over the last five years, many studies investigated the various types of acupuncture used to treat Parkinson's disease and the segmentation and diversification of outcome measures focusing on individual symptoms, and a new approach for excluding placebo effects through follow-up studies has been made. Further attempts like these are needed to overcome methodological flaws in studies on the effects of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.13-21
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture treatment (AT) in the tendency of increase of the need for AT for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) worldwide and to investigate the advancements in AT research in Korea and the future directions of research on this topic. Methods : Until May 2017, the PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and four Korean databases were searched. The searched keywords were "Parkinson's disease", "Acupuncture", and "Intervention study". The intervention groups from all screened original studies were analyzed and the methods used to determine the effect of AT on PD were examined. Results : A total of 17 studies were grouped by country on the basis of the first author's position, of which 10 studies were conducted in China, four in the United States, two in Korea, and one in Brazil. The most common type of intervention was electroacupuncture (nine studies), followed by AT (six studies), and a combination of AT and bee venom AT (two studies). The most frequently used acupoints in AT were Baihui (GV20), Taichong (LR3), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Yanglingquan (GB34). The most commonly used tool for evaluation of PD was the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III, which assesses motor functions. Conclusion : The screened studies reported that there were no adverse effects of AT on drug therapy, and AT reduced the dose of drugs used in PD treatment. Future studies on PD treatment with AT should use the acupoints GV20, LR3, ST36, SP6, and GB34, and the meridians Gallbladder meridian and Governor Vessel. Clinical studies on PD should use CONSORT or STRICTA to ensure the quality of national studies and allow the development of new tools for the assessment of the effect of AT on PD using the above criteria.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.97-107
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to explore the antitumor mechanism and effects of tetrodotoxin through a literature review of experimental and clinical studies. Methods : Medical databases, including The Cochrane Library, Pubmed, NDSL, RISS4u and National Assembly Library, were searched for relevant articles published from January 1, 2000 to October 31, 2014 using the keywords 'tetrodotoxin', 'cancer' and 'tumor'. The results were classified into experimental studies(in vitro and in vivo) and clinical studies. Analysis of the results was conducted on several research areas including the mechanism, antitumor effect and adverse effects of tetrodotoxin(TTX). Results : A total of 34 experimental studies(32 in vitro and 2 in vivo) and 3 clinical studies were found in the search. Most of the experimental studies suggested blocking of voltage-gated sodium channels in metastasis of tumor cells as the main antitumor mechanism of TTX. The most common type of cancers mentioned in the experimental studies were prostate and breast cancer. All of the clinical studies were on the application of TTX on moderate to severe cancer-related pain. No adverse effects of TTX were reported in in vivo studies but mild to moderate adverse events were reported in clinical studies. Conclusions : The results show that tetrodotoxin, which is the main component of Tetraodontidae(commonly known as pufferfish) poison, could be clinically used for antitumor therapy. However, further studies should be conducted on its safety.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the current acupuncture treatment of autism. Methods : 13 Chinese clinical studies published in the last five years were selected for analyzing. Results : Treatment methods were used; massage of acupoints, electro acupuncture, scalp acupuncture, the general acupuncture and special acupuncture treatments for autism as Jin's three needling, Intelligence-increasing acupuncture. Commonly used acupoints were sishencong(四神總), shenting(神庭), benshen(本神), yintang(印堂), naohu(腦戶), naokong(腦空), bohui(百會), neiguan(內關), yanyu1qu(言語1區), yanyu2qu(言語2區), yanyu3qu(言語3區). 10 studies were showed the effects of acupuncture with total improvement rate and 7 of them were higher than 80%. Also, most of the studies showed the acupuncture treatment was extremely effective in improving autism children's speaking ability. Conclusions : Acupuncture have been shown as an effective treatment on autism. Further studies about various treatment using by acupuncture and the evaluation standard would be needed.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.15-21
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current trends in research on pharmacopuncture in Korea since 2007. Methods: A literature review was performed by using the search engines 'Science and Technology Society Village', 'Korean Studies Information Service System', 'National Discovery for Science Leaders', and 'Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System' in Korea from January 2007 to December 2013. Searched key words were 'pharmacopuncture', 'herbal acupuncture', 'aqua-acupuncture', and 'bee venom'. Finally, we selected 457 papers, including Korean experimental studies and clinical studies. Selected papers were classified according to year of publication, type of pharmacopuncture, disease & topic, research type and the publishing journal. Results: One hundred fifty pharmacopunctures were studied in 457 papers. Single compound pharmacopuncture was the most studied pharmacopuncture in experimental studies while animal-based pharmacopuncture was the most studied pharmacopuncture in clinical studies. Bee venom placed first among the various pharmacopunctures, followed by placenta, sweet bee venom, mountain-ginseng, and anti-inflammatory pharmacopunctures. Experimental research on pharmacopuncture has fallen since 2007 when 55 papers were published. However, clinical research has been increasing steadily. In clinical studies, case reports were numerous than randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Musculoskeletal diseases were the most frequently-treated diseases in studies on pharmacopuncture; among the musculoskeletal diseases, rheumatoid arthritis was the most frequently-treated disease in experimental studies and low back pain was the most frequently-treated condition in clinical studies. Since 2007, 45 different journals have published studies on pharmacopuncture, with the Journal of the Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine Society having the largest number of papers on pharmacopuncture and the Journal of Pharmacopuncture the second largest number. Conclusion: The trends in research on pharmacopuncture published in studies from 2007 to 2013 were similar to those in studies published before 2006. Many studies on pharmacopuncture focused on bee venom and musculoskeletal diseases. Additional studies on diverse types of and indications for pharmacopuncture are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.77-93
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• 2008

Objectives : Though there were many clinical studies of acupuncture effects they didn't have appropriate control group or use another therapy for control group. So, we didn't say it was true acupuncture effect, though subjects in clinical study improved. Recently several sham needles for control group were developed and validated. This study aimed at summarizing the validation studies of these needles and evaluating the control group of the acupuncture clinical study. Methods : Computerized literature searches were performed using 'acupuncture' and 'placebo or sham' with a limitation of the results to RCTs in Pubmed, Sciencedirect, NDSL, KISS, RISS. Data were extracted regarding study design, sample size, acupuncture point, stimulation form, credibility testing. And We have examined 106 acupuncture clinical studies published by Pubmed from January 1, 2005 to April 30, 2008. Data were extracted author's country, subject of study, type of study groups, type of control groups, type of blinding, difference between the results in the control groups. Results : Streitberger's placebo needle, Fink's sham needle, Park sham needle, Kim sham needle were developed. They were validated at domestic and abroad. But the results were deviation depending on the each of the researcher. They has shown that sample, acupuncture points, experiences or knowledge of acupuncture dependent on the results. Recent three years, acupuncture clinical trial had different results. Significant differences between Study group and control group emerged from using other therapy or non-treatment for control group. Many study has no significant differences using sham acupuncture for control groups. Conclusions : Acupuncture clinical studies need to meet several requirements. First of all, they require the basics of randomized controlled clinical studies such as blinding and the accurate implementation and description of randomization. And also need to research the unique circumstances of these studies such as the development of sham acupuncture and blinding method which differs from other clinical trials.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2005

Background : Over the last thirty years, majority of researches on clinical effectiveness of acupuncture have been explanatory (or experimental) randomized controlled trial. The benefits of acupuncture in clinical trials are still controversial and most studies concluded that further control studies were required. Standardized combinations of acupuncture points for all the experimental subjects in various past studies have been criticized because such treatments do not reflect current routine clinical treatment. Objective : This paper aims to review pragmatic clinical trials on the effect of acupuncture treatment and to develop the ideal clinical research methodology of acupuncture study. Method : Clinical studies of acupuncture relevant with pragmatic or individualized trials were searched mainly in Pubmed and Science direct databases. All articles were fully reviewed by researchers, and data were evaluated by usage of a standardized form. Results & Suggestion : Pragmatic acupuncture researches were tried for various symptoms (eg. low back pain, hypertension, depression during pregnancy, sleep quality in HIV disease, chronic poststroke leg spasticity, headache, etc). Individualized acupuncture treatments based on oriental disease pattern diagnosis reflexes practical treatments which is more effective than unified and fixed acupuncture treatments without any theoretical basis of oriental medical philosophy. Conclusion : To overcome the controversies and limitations of past explanatory acupuncture trials, more individualized and tailored acupuncture trials with the theoretical basis of oriental medical diagnosis is highly recommended. Also clear definition and categorization of pattern identification should be established for further active clinical researches and applications of acupuncture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.158-168
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to review clinical studies of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (LHIVD) treatment using acupuncture. Online database (PubMed, COCHRANE Library, EMBASE, CNKI, KISS, NDSL, KoreaMed, KMbase, OASIS, and KISTI) searches were conducted in May 2018. Studies that used acupuncture, electroacupuncture or warm needle acupuncture were included, along with participants who had lower back pain and radiating pain of their lower limbs consistent with radiological findings. Animal studies and nonclinical data were excluded. Data on treatment methods, site, time, frequency, period, and scales used were analyzed. There were 69 studies including 38 randomized controlled trials, 14 retrospective observational studies, and 17 clinical case studies. There were 51 acupoints selected for acupuncture treatment of LHIVD. The most frequently treated acupoints were BL23, BL25, BL24, and BL40. The mean treatment time, frequency, and duration were $26.06{\pm}6.70$ mins, $6.29{\pm}1.70$ times/week, and $20.57{\pm}11.04$ days, respectively, in randomized controlled trials (RCT), and $18.62{\pm}4.60$ mins, $11.58{\pm}3.99$ times/week, and $34.43{\pm}17.62$ days, respectively, in case/retrospective studies ($mean{\pm}SD$). This review collates information about acupuncture treatment methods for LHIVD.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Objectives : When we understand the characters of certain person or object, we try to follow each one's or its past up. Korean Journal of Acupuncture is one of the most significant journal in acupuncture study fields in Korea. To understand the trends of study in acupuncture study fields, I made a subject with Korean Journal of Acupuncture. Methods : I made an evaluation and classification for all 713 articles' headline from vol. 17(2000 year) to vol.32(2015 year). Results : 1. Experimental Reseach : There were major portion articles for pharmaco-acupuncture study out of studies for acupuncture, moxibustion, chiropratics, devices and so on. 2. Bibliographical Research and Basic Theory Research : There were major portion articles for medians and acu-point study out of studies for article review and text book itself. Also, there were major portion articles for meridian and acupuncture study out of studies for Qigong, pulse, anatomy and so on. 3. Clinical Research : There were major portion articles for acupuncture study out of studies for moxibustion, chiropratics, devices, complex treatments and so on. 4. Others : There were major portion articles for diagnosis and measurement devices out of acupuncture, laser, pulsing device and so on. Also, there were surveys for recognition of patients and medical services and evaluations for measuring diagnosis utility and those effects. Conclusions : With thise results, I hope that several researchers could consider scope and subject when they submit articles for Korean Journal of Acupuncture.