• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.195-219
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• 2015

Acupuncture therapy has been proved to be effective for diverse diseases, symptoms, and conditions in numerous clinical trials. The growing popularity of acupuncture therapy has triggered the development of modern acupuncture-like stimulation devices (ASDs), which are equivalent or superior to manual acupuncture with respect to safety, decreased risk of infection, and facilitation of clinical trials. Here, we aim to summarize the research on modern ASDs, with a focus on featured devices undergoing active research and their effectiveness and target symptoms, along with annual publication rates. We searched the popular electronic databases Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, and analyzed English-language studies on humans. Thereby, a total of 728 studies were identified, of which 195 studies met our inclusion criteria. Electrical stimulators were found to be the earliest and most widely studied devices (133 articles), followed by laser (44 articles), magnetic (16 articles), and ultrasound (2 articles) stimulators. A total of 114 studies used randomized controlled trials, and 109 studies reported therapeutic benefits. The majority of the studies (32%) focused on analgesia and pain-relief effects, followed by effects on brain activity (16%). All types of the reviewed ASDs were associated with increasing annual publication trends; specifically, the annual growth in publications regarding noninvasive stimulation methods was more rapid than that regarding invasive methods. Based on this observation, we anticipate that the noninvasive or minimally invasive ASDs will become more popular in acupuncture therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.109-115
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was aimed to find the motivation and satisfaction of subjects who participated in acupuncture and moxibustion clinical trials and to suggest ways to improve clinical trial management. Methods : We conducted a survey and collected the data of 233 subjects of acupuncture and moxibustion clinical trials from 6 university hospitals. Results : For all 233 subjects, the mean of the total satisfaction score was 4.07 (perfect score 5.0), and the score was particularly high in aspects of the investigator and clinical research coordinator, but low in the site and sponsor aspects. There were no differences in the satisfaction degree with general characteristics. The satisfaction degree of the acupuncture and moxibustion clinical trials was strong positive correlated with participation benefits(r=0.595) and easy contact with the research team (r=0.500). Conclusions : Most subjects showed positive perception and interest in the clinical trials. Future studies should investigate how personal factors influence the satisfaction of subjects, should identify a specific classification criterion, and create a standardized protocol for the clinical trials.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.146-158
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• 2021

Background: This study was designed to statistically analyze the year, gender, age, insurance type, and condition/disease of patients who were admitted to the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine at DaeJeon Korean Medicine Hospital over a 5-year period (2015-2020). Methods: Patients who visited the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine at DaeJeon Korean Medicine Hospital were classified according to year, gender, age, insurance type, and condition/disease. The statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 23.0. Results: There is an increasing number of patients attending the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine year-on-year over the 5-year period, with a higher frequency of females than males each year. The largest age groups represented in these patients were those aged in their 50s, followed by those aged in their 40s, and 60s. Furthermore, the number of patients using health insurance was greater than those using automobile insurance each year. Of the 5,061 patients, the most common group was the patients (n = 991) who reported sprain and strain of cervical spine, followed by lumbar spine, lumbar herniation of the intervertebral disc, and facial paralysis. Conclusion: The number of patients seeking traditional Korean medicine treatment continues to increase, particularly in the 40s to 60s age group, with a larger proportion using health insurance and sprain or strain of the cervical spine. The results of this study may be used as a local (Daejeon) reference to develop Korean medicine policies, such as setting up medical benefits for patients using Korean medicine hospitals.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.111-117
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed to report observed effectiveness and safety of Taegeuk acupuncture for patients in sub-health status. Methods : We analyzed clinical medical records of 36 outpatients who have visited the Pusan national university Korean medicine hospital between March and June, 2010. Patients received 6 sessions of Taegeuk acupuncture according to their constitutional types. Hepatic dullness sound and symptom reduction were used for the evaluation of clinical effectiveness of Taegeuk acupuncture. One traditional Korean medicine doctor performed all treatment procedures and assessments. Patients were allowed to continue their previous medication during acupuncture treatment. However, no additional traditional Korean medicinal interventions except the acupuncture were conducted during the whole treatment period. Results : After 6 sessions of Taegeuk acupuncture, mean hepatic dullness sound scores (0~100) were reduced from $97.3{\pm}9.0$ to $24.3{\pm}23.7$ with statistical significance (n=36, p<0.001). Mean symptom reduction scores (0~100) were changed from 0 to $53.3{\pm}29.6$ with statistical significance (n=24, p<0.001). 24 patients reported 44 cases of additional improvements of perceived health condition during or after the treatment course. No serious adverse events related to the Taegeuk acupuncture treatment were observed. Conclusions : Taegeuk acupunture may be a feasible, effective and safe treatment intervention for patients with chronic symptoms. Further well-designed studies are needed to confirm those observed improvements and evaluate benefits of Taegeuk acupuncture.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.109-119
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• 2019

Background : Germany is the first country in the world to introduce modern systems of public health insurance, and the country which most widely uses complementary alternative medicine(CAM) in Europe. In early 21^st century, a large evaluation studies were conducted to include acupuncture in health insurance payments, which were eventually decided. Objectives : This study is to investigate and analyze the process of public policy determination on insurance coverage for acupuncture in German health insurance system. Methods : We collected the data and information through the literature search and from the websites of German government departments and health insurance organizations. To obtain contextual information, German experts of health insurance and acupuncture clinical study were interviewed. Results : As use of acupuncture had been growing, German public health insurers wanted to evaluate the validity of acupuncture coverage and sponsored three evaluation projects for clinical effectiveness of acupuncture using randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and pragmatic trials from 2001 to 2005. For some pain condition, acupuncture was founded not to be effective than sham acupuncture, but more effective than standard care. The federal joint committee of health insurance decided to cover acupuncture for chronic pain of lumbar spine and chronic pain in at least one knee joint due to gonarthrosis. Conclusions : Considering the controversial subject matter in the process of acupuncture's health insurance coverage in Germany, expanding the benefits of Korean medicine in Korea needs to come up with ways to overcome the difficulties of placebo effect, standardization and lack of literature evidence.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was performed to choose more effective neuro-protective acupuncture point and to verify the effect of acupuncture in promoting neurogenesis and angiogenesis as a result of its neuro-vasculo-regenerative effect in middle cerebral artery occlusion model in rats. Methods : By TTc staining we chose the most effective acupuncture point with neuro-protection. We randomly divided into four groups: Such as (1) sham group(with sham-operation), (2) sham+acupuncture group(with sham-operation), (3) middle cerebral artery occlusion group, (4) MCAO+AT group. Acupuncture procedure was performed for four days. Total RNA was extracted using TRIzol reagent, according to the manufacturer's instructions, and was purified using an RNAeasy mini kit. Immuno-histochemistry was performed using primary antibody mouse anti-BrdU, NeuN, Dcx, and VEGF. Results : We found that $ST_{36}$ had the more neuroprotective effect than $LI_{11}$ and $SP_3$. The microarray analysis revealed that 54 genes were more expressed neurogenesis pathway in MCAO+AT group compared with MCAO group(fold changes greater than or equal to twofold change). 11 genes were more expressed angiogenesis pathway. And 7 genes were more expressed VEGF pathway. Immuno-histochemistry revealed that cell proliferation, cell migration and cell maturation were increased. Conclusions : This study demonstrated that acupuncture on $ST_{36}$ had neuro-protective and neuro-restorative effect in ischemic brain injuries. And its mechanism might be related to promote neurogenesis and angiogenesis. These results suggest that acupuncture have potential benefits for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.109-118
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue. Methods : A randomized, controlled pilot trial was conducted. Twenty-four participants were randomized into one of the two groups: an acupuncture group(n=12) and wait-list group(n=12). The treatment group received 12 sessions of acupuncture over 4 weeks. Eight points($GV_{20}$; bilateral GB20, $BL_{11}$, $BL_{13}$, $BL_{15}$, $BL_{18}$, $BL_{20}$, and $BL_{23}$) were selected for needling. The control group did not receive acupuncture treatment during study period and follow-up were done in the $5^{th}$ and $9^{th}$ weeks after randomization in both groups. The primary outcome was fatigue severity scale(FSS) and the secondary outcomes included a short form of stress response inventory(SRI-short form), beck depression inventory(BDI), and insomnia severity index(ISI). Safety was assessed at every visit. Results : There were statistically significant differences in the between group values of FSS at $5^{th}$ weeks after randomization(p=0.0002), SRI-short form, BDI, and ISI at $5^{th}$, $9^{th}$ weeks after randomization(p<0.01). There were no adverse events. Conclusions : The results suggest that acupuncture is associated with benefits on the short-term outcomes in chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.229-238
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• 2004

This study was conducted to identify the factors affecting smoking cessation behavior of the university student smokers for developing the effective smoking cessation program. For this purpose, data were collected from 64 students registrated at the university health center for anti-smoking acupuncture through May, 2003. Data were analyzed with percentile, mean, t-test, ANOVA, pearson correlation by SPSS/PC program. The results were as follows ; There was significant relationship in the scores on perceived benefits(t=-2.05, p=.045), chance-health locus of control(t=-2.28, p=.026) and nicotine dependence (t=-1.96, p=.056) according to the grade. And also there was significant increase in the nicotine dependence in the higher grades. There were significant positive relationship between external locus of control and perceived benefits(r=.389, p=.001), perceived barriers and benefits(r=.457, p=.000), and significant negative relationship between the daily life activities and perceived barriers(r=-.350, p=.005). From these results, it can be concluded that the effective smoking cessation program could be considered of perceived benefits & barriers, and nicotine dependence to promote anti-smoking behavior for university student smokers.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2020

Objectives The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine on treating paralytic strabismus in childhood. Methods We treated a 4-years-old patient who was diagnosed with paralytic strabismus with herbal medicine, laser acupuncture, T-acupuncture and moxibustion. Results After 5 months of the Korean medicine treatment, the child's strabismus, diplopia, and limitation of abduction were improved. There was no recurrence of the symptoms for 1 year and 4 months. Conclusions Korean medicine treatment can be effective in improving symptoms of paralytic strabismus. However, further studies are needed to demonstrate the treatment benefits to abducens nerve palsy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.8-19
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• 2021

Low-level laser therapy including laser acupuncture (LLLT/LA) has been widely used for non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP). However, there is no critically appraised evidence of its potential benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of LLLT/LA for NCLBP. There were 12 databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, KoreaMed, KMBASE, KISS, NDSL, KISTI, OASIS, CNKI, CiNII, J-stage) searched for randomized controlled trials using LLLT/LA for NCLBP up until June 2019. The primary outcome was pain intensity and functional status/disability due to NCLBP. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted on 20 studies involving 1,323 participants. LLLT/LA showed a significant positive effect on pain relief scores compared with sham treatments (SMD -0.51, 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.13; χ2 = 31.12, I2 = 74%). Alone, the therapy showed a significant positive effect on function/disability scores (30 participants, MD -11.90, 95% CI: -17.37 to -6.43). As an add-on treatment, it showed a significant positive effect on pain relief (80 participants, MD -5.10, 95% CI: -9.31 to -0.88; χ2 = 28.99, I2 = 97%) and improved function/disability scores (120 participants, MD 5.44, 95% CI: 2.19 to 8.68; χ2 = 4.07, I2 = 75%). Among 20 studies, 9 studies reported no adverse events and 1 study reported mild adverse events. LLLT/LA may be an alternative or add-on treatment for NCLBP.