• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.14-25
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• 2012

Objectives : To observe physiological changes during clinical acupuncture treatment. Methods : We recruited 40 healthy volunteers who had experienced an acupuncture treatment at least once within the past three years. The experimental group was divided into four groups according to the needling site and frequency of electrical stimulation. Sites consisted of abdomen and legs. Frequencies consisted of 100 Hz and 2 Hz. The procedures of experimental treatment consisted of seven phases, Resting I phase (Resting I), Needle insertion phase (Insertion), Maintenance of needle insertion I phase (Maintain I), Electrical stimulation phase (ES), Maintenance of needle insertion II phase (Maintain II), Needle removal phase (Removal) and Resting II phase (Resting II). We measured the surface electromygraphy (SEMG) through an electrode on the frontalis muscle during all phases consecutively. Results : When SEMGs of all seven phases were analyzed, they significantly increased or decreased according to phases. SEMGs of Insertion, Maintain I, ES and Maintain II phase significantly increased more than RestingI in abdomen and legs groups. SEMGs of the abdomen group were measured as being $4.78{\pm}0.74{\mu}V$ on Resting I, $16.48{\pm}3.97{\mu}V$ on Insertion, $46.31{\pm}10.56{\mu}V$ on Maintain I, $45.88{\pm}9.72{\mu}V$ on ES, $45.56{\pm}9.69{\mu}V$ on Maintain II, $18.76{\pm}3.05{\mu}V$ on Removal, and $3.75{\pm}0.65{\mu}V$ on Resting II. SEMGs of the legs group were measured as being $3.34{\pm}0.35{\mu}V$ on Resting I, $12.11{\pm}1.76{\mu}V$ on Insertion, $36.74{\pm}6.99{\mu}V$ on Maintain I, $33.57{\pm}6.30{\mu}V$ on ES, $32.66{\pm}6.03{\mu}V$ on Maintain II, $14.08{\pm}2.15{\mu}V$ on Removal, and $2.88{\pm}0.32{\mu}V$ on Resting II. Conclusions : SEMG changed differently according to processes of acupuncture. Electrical stimulation showed different change of SEMG. Thus, acupuncture treatment may change the status of the autonomic nervous system.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.113-126
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• 2011

Objectives : We have examined and analyzed patents regarding acupuncture point stimulating methods in order to understand the stimulation technology and research trends of acupuncture points. Methods : We searched and analyzed the total of 135 on-line DB based patents under time limit of Dec, 2010. Results : According to the analyzed results, non-invasive method is used more than invasive method. Electric stimulation is used more than any other method, such as magnetic, ionic, laser, light, ultrasonic, water, Far IR and thermal stimulation. There are numbers of cases such as rejected during screening procedure, waived before the screening, of failed to renew its registrational status which outnumber those patents registered and maintained. Conclusions : These data suggest that we need to move away from using one side method such as non-invasive and electrical method. Thus follow-up service is recommended.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.37-44
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• 2016

Objectives To determine the effectiveness of Chuna manual therapy combined acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia. Methods We searched 6 electronic databases (Pubmed, CAJ, Oasis, RISS, DBPIA, KoreanTK) and 2 journals up to August 2016. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using Chuna manual therapy combined acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results 3 RCT studies were eligible in our review. The meta-analysis of 3 studies showed favorable results for the use of Chuna manual therapy combined acupuncture. High risk of bias were observed in all studies. Conclusions Although there are favorable results with meta-analysis, our systematic review are highly dependent on the single source of Chinese electrical database, CAJ. Now limited evidence is available to support Chuna manual therapy combined acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia and further well-designed RCTs should be encouraged.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.39-49
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• 2004

The purpose of this study were to examine the effect of high intensity, low frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at auricular acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold measured at the wrist and to determine the changes in effect over time. Forty-two healthy adult men and women were assigned randomly to one of three treatment groups. Group 1(n=15) received TENS to appropriate auricular points for wrist, Group 2(n=12) received TENS to wrist, and Group 3(n=15) received no TENS. We measured experimental pain threshold at the wrist after an electrical stimulus during one pre-treatment and three post-treatment time periods. Group 1 and 2 showed stastically significant increase(p<0.05) in pain threshold after treatment whereas the Group 3 did not. Group 1 showed a significant increase in pain threshold than Group 2. These results suggest that high intensity, low frequency TENS applied to appropriate auricular acupuncture points can increase pain threshold.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.422-429
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• 2009

Meridian which used as the basic theory of acupuncture treatment, is an important functional connection system of acupuncture point in oriental medicine. Yangdorak and EAV have lack of precision because of using 2-electrode method, occurring high non-uniformed current density and electrode contact status on electrode placement spot. Therefore we implemented a meridian impedance measurement system for measuring meridian impedance using 4-electrode method. In order to confirm the precision of developed system, we made an constant current characteristic experiment using standard resistor. As a results of clinical study with 18 subjects, the meridian impedance showed that reproductivity and repeatability of HT7 acupuncture point are $0.515[k{\Omega}]{\pm}0.000$(mean${\pm}$standard deviation) and $0.515[k{\Omega}]{\pm}0.002$, respectively. And reproductivity and repeatability of PC7 are $0.521[k{\Omega}]{\pm}0.000$ and $0.521[{\Omega}]{\pm}0.001$ respectively. The proposed system was stable and reliable. Therefore this study proved AC impedance method to valid in measuring meridian impedance, and also verified precision and repeatability of the proposed meridian impedance measurement system. The proposed system will serve as more effective method of measuring meridian phenomena as a bioelectric signal in clinical practice.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.80-99
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• 2024

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review clinical studies conducted over the last ten years that investigated weight or fat loss interventions that can preserve muscle or fat-free mass in Sarcopenic obesity Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) and Korea Studies Information Service (KISS) were searched for Randomized clinical trials that had investigated all-type of interventions on the management of sarcopenic obesity from October 2013 to September 2023. Results: A total of 14 studies met all the inclusion criteria. Interventions that increase muscle mass while reducing body fat at the same time included resistance training (including using elastic bands) and whole-body electromyostimulation(WB-EMS) in exercise intervention and Hypocaloric high-protein diet in nutritional intervention, exercise and nutritional combined intervention, and combination intervention of electrical acupuncture and amino acid supplementation. Among them, the most positive method of changing the body composition in sarcopenic obesity was the electric acupuncture and amino acid supplements. Conclusion: Varying diagnostic criteria and management interventions for sarcopenic obesity in the included studies made it hard to maintain homogeneity across the studies. Well-defined criteria for diagnostic sarcopenic obesity should be considered. In addition, since all of the interventions examined did not show sufficient clinical effectiveness, follow-up studies are needed to confirm effective interventions for sarcopenic obesity patients in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2009

Objectives : The conventional direct and indirect moxibustion therapies for prostate treatment could not been applied to the acupuncture point of $CV_1$(Conception Vessel Meridian 1, 會陰) because of its boring body region. The position of $CV_1$(會陰) is the back side of hard part between the anus and the genital organ. The conventional moxibustion methods have many troubles in operating to the acupuncture point of $CV_1$(會陰). In order to get rid of these problems, we have suggested the special heat generating terminal especially for prostate. The features of the special heat generating terminal for prostate are the low temperature infrared heater and the adhesive moxa-pad. These features are no burnt, no fiery and especially suitable for the point of $CV_1$(會陰). Methods: The heat generating terminal which is a part of the moxa-extract moxibustion cauterizer is composed of a PTC(Positive Temperature Coefficients) ceramic heater and the adhesive moxa-pad We had got the experimental demonstrations by the stimulating the acupuncture points which are $CV_1$(會陰), $BL_{28}$(Bladder Meridian 28, 膀胱兪), and $CV_3$(Conception Vessel Meridian 3, 中極) with the special heat generating terminal for the prostatitis and the benign prosthetic hypertrophy. And the stimulation level was 43$^{\circ}C$ infrared heat for one hour. The type of thermography is IRIS-5000. Results : With one subject suffering the prostatitis and another subject suffering the benign prosthetic hypertrophy, we cauterized the acupuncture points $CV_1$(會陰), $BL_{28}$(膀胱兪) and $CV_3$(中極) with the special heat generating terminal for prostate. We measured the temperature variations by the thermography before and after stimulations. Finally we estimated the tendency of temperature decreasing in the region of post-stroke urinary symptoms and the improvement of nocturnal enuresis after the stimulations. Conclusions : We suggest that the special heat generating terminal of moxa-extract moxibustion cauterizer proposed herein is effective for the treatment of prostate by NIH-CPSI and IPSS.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.145-156
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• 2003

Objective : This study is to investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture ST36 on altered transmission of afferent somatosensory information caused by amyloid-${\beta}$(A-${\beta}$) that caused Alzheimer's disease. Methods : The effects of topical application of A-${\beta}$, A-${\beta}$ with ST36, aggregated A-${\beta}$(aA-${\beta}$), aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 and ST36 on the afferent sensory transmission to the neurons in the primary somatosensory(SI) cortex was observed in anesthetized rats. Quantitative determination of the effects of A-${\beta}$, A-${\beta}$ with ST36, aA-${\beta}$, aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 and ST36 was made by generating poststimulus time histogram of evoked response of individual cortical neuron by electrical stimulation of the receptive located in peripheral area(forepaw) Results : The results obtained in present study were summerized as follow : 1. Application of physiological concentrative 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex facilitated. 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ with ST36 exerted much stronger effects than 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ alone. 2. Application of $10{\mu}M$ A-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex unchangeable. But $10{\mu}M$ A-${\beta}$ with ST36 is facilitated at 30 min of post-drug period 3. Application of $10{\mu}M$ aA-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex diminished. $10{\mu}M$ aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 is diminished after 15min of post-drug period but is facilitated after 75min.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.19-35
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review which acupoints and meridians are selected to treat visceral pain in articles published in international journals and to investigate quality of reporting acupuncture intervention according to the STRICTA guidelines. Methods : Electrical and hand search were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library for acupuncture studies on visceral pain in human and animals. Reporting quality of intervention was evaluated using the revised STRICTA guidelines. Results : We included 51 articles (7 clinical studies and 44 animal studies) in this study. The most frequently adopted meridians and acupoints were Stomach meridian, Spleen meridian, Conception Vessel meridian, and ST36, CV4, SP6, LI4, PC6, SP9, ST25, ST37 in clinical studies. In animal studies, Stomach meridian, Conception Vessel meridian, Pericardium meridian and ST36, ST37, CV12, PC6 were most frequently used. Animal studies showed significantly lower quality of reporting compared to clinical studies. According to the analysis on the effect of year of publication of articles, announcement of STRICTA guidelines did not improve the quality of reporting for studies on visceral pain. Conclusions : These results suggest that both proximal and distal acupoints based on meridian theory were used to study the underlying mechanisms of visceral pain both in human and animal studies. Guidelines of acupuncture intervention reporting for animal study is necessary to improve the quality of evidence, and it will also allow us the integrative understanding of the mechanisms and clinical effects of acupuncture treatment in human and animal.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.126-131
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• 2022

Objectives : Electroacupuncture (EA) is a procedure in which pulses of weak electrical current are sent through acupuncture needles into acupuncture points in the skin, and Joksamli (ST36) is one of the most used acupoints. This study was designed to analyze the trend of research articles on ST36 EA published in Korea. Methods : Articles on EA at ST36 in Korean journals were searched in Korean databases and analyzed focusing on the number of publications by year, research subject, research topics, institutes, and journals. Results : Total 66 articles were included in this study, which were 51 basic researches, 12 clinical researches, and 3 reviews. Since 2000, the number of articles has gradually increased, reaching the highest level in 2007, and rapidly decreased since 2012. Kyung Hee University is the organization that published the most articles, and the journal that published the most articles is Journal of Acupuncture Research, followed by Korean Journal of Acupuncture. Conclusions : A lot of ST36 EA studies in Korean journals are basic experimental researches using rats, and the research topics are closely related to the diseases of patients visiting Korean medicine clinics. The number of papers by institution is related to the number of professors, and researchers tend to prefer publishing in acupuncture journals.