• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.167-175
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• 2024

Cancer progression is driven by genetic mutations, environmental factors, and intricate interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME comprises of diverse cell types, such as cancer cells, immune cells, stromal cells, and neuronal cells. These cells mutually influence each other through various factors, including cytokines, vascular perfusion, and matrix stiffness. In the initial or developmental stage of cancer, neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor are associated with poor prognosis of various cancers by communicating with cancer cells, immune cells, and peripheral nerves within the TME. Over the past decade, research has been conducted to prevent cancer growth by controlling the activation of neurotrophic factors within tumors, exhibiting a novel attemt in cancer treatment with promising results. More recently, research focusing on controlling cancer growth through regulation of the autonomic nervous system, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, has gained significant attention. Sympathetic signaling predominantly promotes tumor progression, while the role of parasympathetic signaling varies among different cancer types. Neurotransmitters released from these signalings can directly or indirectly affect tumor cells or immune cells within the TME. Additionally, sensory nerve significantly promotes cancer progression. In the advanced stage of cancer, cancer-associated cachexia occurs, characterized by tissue wasting and reduced quality of life. This process involves the pathways via brainstem growth and differentiation factor 15-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha-like signaling and hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons. Our review highlights the critical role of neurotrophic factors as well as central nervous system on the progression of cancer, offering promising avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.13 no.1 s.19
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• pp.129-138
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• 2007

Background : Recently a discussion about Qi including a study about the effect or the theory of acupuncture is getting prevailing in various angles. In most of studies about acupuncture stimulus, 'Filiform acupuncture'(毫鍼) is used. A study about Nine kinds of acupuncture(九鍼), except 'Filiform acupuncture'(毫鍼) has not been reported yet, and there is no study about using a special acupuncture made for controling Qi either. Objectives : 'DONG CHU CHIM' can be used for patients who are scared of a pain because it is a medical Qikong tool and non-invasive stimulus one. To assess a effect of Qikong operation using 'DONG CHU CHIM' objectively, we stimulated non-invasive to Sobu point of 30 normal adults using 'DONG CHU CHIM' and examined the result in the basis of high confirmed and repetitive HRV which is a functional assessment method of the autonomic nervous system. Method : This study has been proceeded in three periods. Total was 35min : 10min for the former and latter period of acupuncture stimulus, l5min for the acupuncture stimulus period. For each period, we measured 5min of 3 times(Stage I, II, III). Result : Comparing the changes of HRV during pre-stimulation and post-stimulation, HRT was significantly reduced, LOGTP, LOGVLF, LOGLF, LF/HF were significantly increased and SDNN, LOGHF were generally increased but did not show any significant changes. So we think that the stimulus of 'DONG CHU CHIM' affects on the sympathetic system and parasympathetic system, it activates the autonomic nervous system, and it makes the inequality of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve to be equal status. Conclusions : We can conclude that the non-invasive stimulus of 'DONG CHU CHIM' can affect significantly to the autonomic nervous system. So it can be used in clinic as a tool of Qikong operation, and it can be also used to weak patients or children because it doesn't give a lot of pain like 'Filiform acupuncture'(毫鍼) compared to invasive stimulus. By the basis of this study, more studies about the effect of 'DONG CHE CHIM' should be done in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.126-136
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• 2007

Objectives : Bell's palsy in an acute peripheral facial nerve paralysis that usually affects only one side of the face. The seventh cranial nerve carries predominantly motor fibers, but also supplies some autonomic innervation, sensation to park of the ear, and taste to the anterior two thirds of the tongue. The aim of this study is to provide evidence of differences between facial skin temperature of the paralyzed side and normal side in Bell's palsy patients. Methods : the author studied 68 patients with Bell's palsy whose facial nerve function had been documented by the House-Brackmann grading system. We measured skin temperature of the forehead, zygoma, lower lip, temple and lower jaw area of the paralyzed side and those of the normal side. Results : there were significant facial skin temperature differences between the forehead area of paralyzed side and that of normal side of GrII(P<0.05) and III(P<0.05). The result also showed that the facial skin temperature difference according to the aflection period vanished when air temperature was calibrated (F=1.700, P=0.178). Conclusions : Thermography is a useful diagnostic tool in Bell's palsy if the air temperature is low enough to cool the facial skin temperature and the forehead area is evaluated as the sampling zone.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.47-56
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effect of acupuncture at Yintang point(EX-$HN_3$) on heart rate variability in healthy adults with mental stress. Methods : 38 healthy volunteers(sham point group : 19, Yintang point group 19) participated in this study. The study was established by randomized trial. After 10 minutes rest period, mental stress was provided for 10 minutes. HRV was recorded before and after stress. And then simple acupuncture was applied at sham or Yintang point for 15 minutes. We measured HRV 3 times: before and after stress, and after acupuncture. Results : In sham point group, LF norm and HF norm changed significantly after mental stress. In Yintang point group, LF, HF, LF norm, HF norm and LF/HF showed a significant change after mental stress. In sham point group, all indicators were not affected after acupuncture. In Yintang point group, HF norm decreased significantly. LF, LF norm and LF/HF increased significantly. There were significant differences between two groups(p<0.05). Conclusions : The results suggest that acupuncture at Yintang point(EX-$HN_3$) can regulate and prevent the alteration of autonomic nerve system by mental stress.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.49-56
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture at $CV_{17}$ for reducing mental stress using power spectrum analysis of the heart rate variability(HRV). Methods : 30 healthy volunteers(control group: 15, experimental group: 15) participated in this study. After instrumentation and 5-minutes rest period, mental stress by operation was provided for 5-minutes. HRV was recorded before and after the mental stress. And then the control group rested for 15-minutes. The experimental group was injected Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture at $CV_{17}$ and rested for 15-minutes. And then HRV was recorded. Results : In simple rest group, LF norm and HF norm showed a significant change after mental stress. In pharmacopuncture group, LF norm, HF norm and LF/HF showed a significant change after mental stress. But there were no significant difference between two groups(p>0.05). In pharmacopuncture group, LF norm, HF norm and LF/HF showed a significant change after pharmacopuncture injection. There were significant difference between two groups(p<0.01). Conclusions : The result suggests that Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture at $CV_{17}$(Jeonjung) can regulate and prevent the alteration of autonomic nerve system due to mental stress.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.191-201
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• 2006

Purpose : Skin Resistance Variability(SRV) is a kind of biofunctional signal, and it can show the function of autonomic nervous system, especially in the sympathetic nerve. The objective of this study is to find out the differences of SRV of reproductive women with aging. Method : We measured SRV(by CP-6000A) of 151 women who visited Gynecologic Clinic. And the results were classified according to age, by five groups. After detection of SRV, we performed correlation analysis and ANOVA by SPSS 12.0. Results : 1. The SRV was measured twice. It resulted in seven areas. In 1, 2, 3 areas, the second results were higher than first results in every groups. In 4, 5, 6, 7 areas, the first results were higher than second results in every groups. 2. The SRV of lower part (4, 5, 6, 7 area) on the body was higher than that of higher part (1, 2, 3 area). 3. The SRV in the youngest group was higher than the oldest group in 1, 2, 3 area of second trial. Conclusion : With relations to the standardization and objectification of oriental medicine, we expect that these results contribute to gynecologic clinic in the department of diagnosis of functional abnormality of hypothalamus-hypophysis-ovarian axis (H-P-O axis).

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.98-108
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio and dysmenorrhea, history of gynecological disease, heart rate varibility(HRV). Methods: From May 1st 2011 to July 10th 2011, a total of 40 female subjects (age 20-39) were recruited. We evaluated the menstruation condition by questionnaires including VAS(Visual Analog Scale), VRS(Verbal Rating Scale) and MVRS (Multidimensional Verbal Rating Scale), also measured subject's WBC differential count and HRV. Results: 1. There was no statistically significant difference in granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio according to menstruation cycle, duration, amount, color, and blood clot. 2. There was no statistically significant difference in VAS, VRS, MVRS mean scores between normal group and abnormal group according to granulocyte/ lymphocyte ratio. 3. The past prevalence of gynecological disease of abnormal group showed significantly higher compared with that of normal group($x^2$=6.578, p=0.010). 4. LF/HF ratio and granulocyte ratio significantly showed positive correlation ($r_s$=0.311 p=0.048) and LF/HF ratio and lymphocyte ratio significantly showed negative correlation($r_s$=-0.319 p=0.045). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the gynecologic diseases are related to disorder of autonomic nervous system, but not dysmenorrhea. And the balance state of sympathetic/parasympathetic nerve infered through granulocyte/lymphocyte ratio and HRV seems to be consistent. However, reconfirmation through further studies is needed.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 2013

Objective : There have been few comprehensive studies on the analysis of 24-hour HRV of major depressive disorder (MDD). The purpose of this study was to compare the autonomic nerve system of patients with a MDD with healthy patients and to examine the physiologic and clinical effects of 24-hour HRV by analyzing whether the HRV demonstrates the level of depressive symptoms after improving the symptoms in patients with a MDD. Methods : The 24-hour HRV was measured in patient groups with a MDD (n=16) and control groups (n=16). The patients with a MDD received the follow up test for two months after the treatment. Results : There were significant differences among the indexes (SDNN, rMSSD, SDNN index, and pNN50) of time-domain analysis and the indexes (TP, VLF, LF, HF, and ULF) of frequency-domain analysis of HRV between patient and control groups. The means of RR, SDNN, SDANN, and TP increased after two month of the treatment, comparing them with before the treatment, but there were no statistical significance. Conclusion : The results of 24-hour HRV analysis indicated significant decrease of HRV indexes among MDD patients which may suggest decrease of parasympathetic nervous functions.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.51-58
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of $PC_6$ moxibustion treatment for reducing mental stress using power spectrum analysis of the heart rate variability(HRV). Methods : 20 healthy volunteers(simple rest group : 10, moxibustion treatment group : 10) participated in this study. After instrumentation and 5-minutes rest period, mental stress by operation was provided for 5-minutes. HRV was recorded before and after the mental stress. And then the simple rest group rested for 15-minutes. The moxibustion treatment group was treated by $PC_6$ moxibustion and rested for 15-minutes. And then HRV was recorded. Results : In simple rest group, LF norm and HF norm showed a significant change after mental stress. In moxibustion treatment group, LF, HF, LF norm, HF norm and LF/HF showed a significant change after mental stress. But there were no significant difference between two groups(p>0.05) except HF. In moxibustion treatment group, LF, LF norm, HF norm and LF/HF showed a significant change after moxibustion treatment. There were significant differences between two groups(p<0.05). Conclusions : The result suggests that $PC_6$ moxibustion treatment can regulate and prevent the alteration of autonomic nerve system by mental stress.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.85-100
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the effect of four common types of Qigong position (standing, sitting, supine, and horse-riding position) on the autonomic nervous system. Method : Thirty healthy subjects participated in this study once a week for four weeks. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was measured three times (before, during, and after the position) while the subject maintained one of four positions for ten minutes. Result : There were significant changes HRV in the standing position. In the sitting position, both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves were activated. On the other hand, in the spine position, heart rate (HR) was decreased. Activation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves was also observed in this position. Significant increases of indices related to awakening and concentration were observed accompanied by increase of HR and a sympathetic nerve was activated in the riding-horse position. Conclusions : In the present study, it was shown that each Qigong position caused various and significant changes in autonomic nervous system. It would be expected that these results can be applied to choose appropriate Qigong position according to objective of Qigong therapy although it is remained to further evaluate the effects of long-term maintenance of Qigong positions and repeated Qigong training.