• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.137-150
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of moxibustion treatment for osteoarthritis. There were 9 databases used to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used moxibustion as treatment for osteoarthritis. The quality of methodology for the RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool [Review Manager (RevMan) Version 5.3 Windows, The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark]. The inclusion criteria for this review was met by 27 RCTs. All studies were conducted in China. A 4-week moxibustion treatment period was the most common. EX-LE4 and SP10 and GB34 acupoints were most frequently selected in the treatment of osteoarthritis. The most commonly used evaluation index was the visual analog scale (VAS). All studies, including a meta-analysis showed that moxibustion treatments were statistically significantly effective at treating knee osteoarthritis. However, well-designed randomized RCTs without a high risk of bias should be designed in the future.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2020

This is the first study to establish a complete protocol for micropropagation of Rehmannia glutinosa from root segments. The study involved investigating the effect of plant growth regulators on in vitro shoot regeneration and rooting and identifying substrates supporting survival and growth performance of ex vitro seedlings. A Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 30 g/L sucrose for shoot induction and 0.2 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 1 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), and 1 g/L polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for shoot multiplication resulted in the highest number of shoots per explant and shoot height. Applying a medium containing 0.5 mg/L IAA and 1 g/L PVP yielded optimal rooting of the shoots grown in vitro. Compost enriched with microbial inoculants and perlite enhanced seedling growth better than that with organic biofertilizer-free substrates (soil and sand). We recommend the continuous production of micropropagated R. glutinosa seedlings from root segments under the aforementioned conditions as a possible propagation technique for crops of this species.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2016

Although the antioxidant and cardioprotective effects of NecroX-5 on various in vitro and in vivo models have been demonstrated, the action of this compound on the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system remains unclear. Here we verify the role of NecroX-5 in protecting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity during hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR). Necrox-5 treatment ($10{\mu}M$) and non-treatment were employed on isolated rat hearts during hypoxia/reoxygenation treatment using an ex vivo Langendorff system. Proteomic analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and non-labeling peptide count protein quantification. Real-time PCR, western blot, citrate synthases and mitochondrial complex activity assays were then performed to assess heart function. Treatment with NecroX-5 during hypoxia significantly preserved electron transport chain proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation and metabolic functions. NecroX-5 also improved mitochondrial complex I, II, and V function. Additionally, markedly higher peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-$1{\alpha}$ ($PGC1{\alpha}$) expression levels were observed in NecroX-5-treated rat hearts. These novel results provide convincing evidence for the role of NecroX-5 in protecting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity and in preserving $PGC1{\alpha}$ during cardiac HR injuries.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.565-570
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to report a clinical case of a patient with CIPN (Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy) successfully treated with Korean medicine interventions including acupuncture, herbal medicine and moxibustion. The patient is a female with CIPN who was diagnosed with ascending colon cancer and suffering from paresthesia of extremities after chemotherapy of platinum compounds. The patient was treated mainly with electroacupuncture (Ex-LE 10), indirect moxibustion and herbal medicine (Ucha-Shinki-hwan granule). The clinical outcomes were measured by NCI CTCAE grade, EORTC QLQ-C30 (CIPN20) scale and patient's assessment of symptoms. In this case, the NCI CTCAE grade was improved from II to I. The scores of global health status and functional scale in QLQ-C30 were increased and symptom scale was decreased. Especially, this case shows a noticeable decrease in sensory scale in QLQ-CIPN20. In patient's general assessment, the scale was changed from 10 to 5. Korean medical interventions including acupuncture, herbal medicine and moxibustion could potentially be an effective treatment for CIPN if further researches are conducted.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1 s.29
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• pp.379-402
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• 1995

This study was performed to investigate the comparative effects of Apitoxin(0.1% bee venom 0.1cc) & Acupuncture therapy on the knee joint arthritis induced by 0.1% carrageenin solution at Rt. knee joint in rats. After carrageenin injection, the apitoxin was injected for two times (Experimental group I : 1 & 24hours later, Experimental group II : 48 & 72hours later) into the corresponding loci to Rt. $ST_{35}$(Group 3) & $EX-LE_4$(group 4) of the human body in rats. Acupuncture therapy was done same as above. And then the comparative effects of apitoxin and acupuncture therapy on the knee joint arthritis were estimated by the WBC count, RBC count, hemoglobin level, hematocrit level and ASO titer in serum. The results were summerized as follows : 1. The effects of apitoxin & acupuncture on WBC count showed remarkable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 2. The effect of apitoxin on RBC count showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. The acupuncture was not showed decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 3. The effects of apitoxin & acupuncture on hemoglobin level showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 4. The effect of apitoxin on hematocrit level showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. The acupuncture was not showed decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 5. The effect of apitoxin on ASO titer showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group only in experimental group I. The apitoxin & acupuncture showed decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in experimental group II. There were significantly statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. The effect of apitoxin showed slightly decrease as compared with the acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of massive clinical research and to make a basic analysis on the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion treatment on knee osteoarthritis compared to usual care. Methods and Results : This study is a protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial. Forty participants are assigned to the moxibustion group (n=20) and usual care group (n=20). Participants assigned to the moxibustion group receive moxibustion treatment on the affected knee(s) at six standard acupuncture points (ST36, ST35, ST34, SP9, Ex-LE04 and SP10) three times per week for four weeks (total of 12 sessions). Participants in the usual care group don't receive moxibustion treatment during the study period and follow-up are made on the 5th, 9th and 13th weeks after random allocation. Both groups are allowed to use any kind of treatment, including surgery, conventional medication, physical treatment, acupuncture, herbal medicine, over-the-counter drugs and other active treatments. Education material that explains knee osteoarthritis and current management options and self-exercise is provided for each group. The pain scale of the Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Questionnaire (K-WOMAC) is the primary outcome measurement used in this study. Other subscales of the K-WOMAC, the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Physical Function test, Patient Global Assessment, and Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) are used as outcome variables to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture. Safety is assessed at every visit. Conclusions : The result of this trial will provide a basis for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for knee osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.115-133
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• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Curcumae Longae Rhizoma pharmacopuncture on the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis rats. Methods Osteoarthritis was induced by injection of MIA ($50{\mu}L$ with 80 mg/mL) into knee joint cavity of rats. Rats were divided into 6 groups. Normal group was injected by normal saline into knee joint cavity only. Control group was induced for osteoarthritis by MIA and orally administered with distilled water. Normal Saline group was induced for osteoarthritis by MIA and injected with normal saline $100{\mu}L$. Positive comparison group was injected with MIA and orally administered with indomethacin 5 mg/kg. Curcumae Longae Rhizoma pharmacopuncture low concentration (CL) group was induced for osteoarthritis by MIA and injected with Curcumae Longae Rhizoma pharmacopuncture low concentration $100{\mu}L$. Curcumae Longae Rhizoma pharmacopuncture high concentration (CH) group was induced for osteoarthritis by MIA and injected with Curcumae Longae Rhizoma pharmacopuncture high concentration $100{\mu}L$. Curcumae Longae Rhizoma pharmacopuncture was injected at ST35 and EX-LE4 each group (CL, CH). After that, hind paw weight distribution was measured and oxidative stress biomarker in serum, liver function biomarker in serum, western blot analysis were measured. Histological analysis of knee joint tissue was performed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, Safranin-O staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Results Hind paw weight distribution was significantly improved in both group. alanine aminotransferanse and aspartate aminotransferase were decreased significantly in CH group compare with Indomethacin threated group. Antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, Catalase and heme oxygenase-1 were increased in CH group compare with control group. Inflammatory cytokine cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase and interleukin-1 beta were decreased significantly in CH group. Histological analysis result shows that protective effects of joint and cartilage were observed in both CH and CL groups in a concentration-dependent. Conclusions The result suggest that Curcumae Longae Rhizoma pharmacopuncture has anti-oxidation effect, anti-inflammatory effect and also can prevent progression of osteoarthritis and protect joint cartilage.