• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study to investigate the effect of TENS and electroacupuncture (EA) on injured muscle recovery and to compare the difference between TENS and EA. Methods: 18 S-D rats were produced surgically for crush injury on Extensor digitorum. TENS and EA stimulation were applied on acu-point that Zusanli (ST36) and Taijun (Liv3) of each hindlimb as approximitely 2Hz for 15 minutes. The rats were sacrificed on 1, 3, 7 post operation day, and the spinal level was immunohistochmical stainied. Results: The expression of NT-3 on the spinal level related with injured muscle between Ex-1 group and Ex-2, there is no significant difference. But between Con and Ex-1/Ex-2, there was little difference. In the same indivudual, we confirmed more NT-3 expression on the same side of injured muscle than on another side of gray matter in posterior horn. Conclusion: There is no difference, which is more effective to recover of injured muscle, between EA and TENS on injured muscle.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.70-78
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was aimed at examining the effects of the application of EA (electroacupuncture) at GV20 and LI4 in the early cerebral ischemia on the size of cerebral infarction, COX-2 and IL-6. Methods : For this experiment, 21, six-week-old male S-D (Sprague - Dawley) rats weighting 160g to 200g were selected and randomly classified into 3 groups, seven rats in each group. Brain ischemia was simulated using a modified Koizumi method which was performed on each rat. In the GV20 group, the GV20 of the SD rats was stimulated for thirty minutes with acupunctural electrode low frequency stimulator five hours after inducement of ischemia. For the LI4 group, the LI4 was stimulated as above, while for the Ischemia group, no stimulation was applied. Twenty-four hours after the experiment, stained cerebral tissues were examined and an immuno-histological test was done to examine inflammatory reaction Results : Out of the three groups, the LI4 group showed the smallest size of cerebral infarction and the Ischemia group showed the highest COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) expression value in the cortex of the cerebrum. In addition, the LI4 group showed the lowest COX-2 expression value in unknown putamen out of the three groups. Conclusions : We infer that EA, applied at LI4 and GV20 in early ischemia, is effective in delaying the expression of IL-6 (interleukin-6) and COX-2, the inflammatory agents manifested from stroke. In addition, application at LI4, rather than GV20, can lower the expression value of the inflammatory agents. Further, EA can be an effective way to block early inflammatory reaction in stroke.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.207-219
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effect of low frequency electro-acupuncture (EA) at ST36 acupoint on the Freund's Complete Adjuvant(FCA)-induced arthritis in rats. Methods : Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of FCA into base of tail. Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups; Normal, Control, ST36 and Non-Acupoint(NA). ST36 group was treated by 2 Hz EA at ST36 acupoint. Body weight, paw edema volun1e and ankle joint thickness were measured after treatment. And we investigated the effects of 2 Hz EA via WBC count, segment neurophil, lymphocyte, PGE2 assay and NADPH-d histochemistry. Results and Conclusion : The mean of body weight and ankle joint thickness of ST36 group was increased compared with control group. The mean of paw edema volume, WBC count, segment neutrophil and lymphocyte of were not decreased with control group. The mean of PGE2 concentration and NADPH-d positive neurons were changed significantly compared with control group.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-36
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• 2006

Objectives . The aim of this study was to examine the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) at the ST36 on normal humans by using power spectral analysis. Methods : EEG(Electroencephalogram) power spectral exhibits site-specific and state-related differences in specific frequency bands. In this study, power spectrum was used as a measure of complexity. 32 channel EEG study was carried out in 12 subjects (10 males; age=26.7 years old, 2females; age=28 years old). Results ; In ${\alpha}$ (alpha) band, the power values at Fp2, F7, F3, Fz, FTC1, FTC2, T3, C3, Cz, C4, TT1, TCP1, CP1, CP2,T5, P3, Pz, P4, Po1, Po2, O1, Oz,O2 channels(p<0.05) during the ST36-acupoint treatment were significantly increased. In ${\beta}$ (beta) band, the power values at Fp2, F7, F3, Fz, F4, F8, FTC1, FTC2, T3, C3, Cz, C4, TT1, TCP1, CP1, CP2, T5, P3, Pz, P4, Po1, Po2, O1, Oz, O2 channels(p<0.05) during the ST36-acupoint treatment were significantly decreased. In ${\delta}$ (delta) band, the power values at F7, Fz, T3, C3, TT1, TCP1, CP1, CP2, T5, P3, Pz,T6, Po1, PO2,O1, Oz, O2 channels(p<0.05) during the ST36-acupoint treatment were significantly decreased. In ${\theta}$(theta) band, the power values at F7, Fz, FTC1, T3, TCP1, CP2, TCP2, Po1, Po2 channels(p<0.05) during the ST36-acupoint treatment were significantly decreased. ${\alpha}$/${\beta}$ values at Cz, T5, O1, Oz, O2 channels during the ST36-acupoint treatment were increased. ${\beta}$/${\theta}$ values at Fpl, F7, F3, Fz, F4, F8, FTC1, FTC2, T3, C3, C4, T4, TT1, TCP1, TCP2, TT2, P3, P4, T6, Pol channels during the ST36-acupoint treatment were increased. Conclusions : This results suggest that Electroacupuncture at the ST36 mostly affects the charge on alpha(23 channels), beta(25 channels) bands.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.130-137
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• 2010

Objectives: So far it has been reported that acupuncture increases cerebral blood supply and stimulates the functional activity of brain nerve cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that frequently used electro-acupuncture (EA) therapies for stroke increased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in normal volunteers. Though ST 36-ST 41 EA is another prevailing therapy for stroke, there had been no report about its effect on rCBF. This study was to evaluate the effect of ST 36-ST 41 EA on rCBF in normal volunteers using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Methods: In the resting state, $^{99m}Tc$-ECD brain SPECT scans were performed on 10 normal volunteers (5 males, 5 female, mean age $23.6{\pm}0.5$ years). On the other study day, 7 days after the resting examination, 15 minutesEA were applied at ST 36 and ST 41 on the right side of the subjects. Immediately after ST36-ST41 EA, the second SPECT images were obtained in the same manner as the resting state. Significant increases and decreases of rCBF after EA were estimated by comparing their SPECT images with those of the resting state using paired t statistics at every voxel, which were analyzed by SPM with a threshold of p = 0.01, uncorrected (extent threshold: k=100 voxels). Results: EA applied at the right ST36-ST41 significantly increased rCBF in the right inferior parietal lobule (Brodmann area [BA] 40), right retrosubicular area (BA 48), left inferior parietal lobule (BA 40), left middle temporal gyrus (BA 21), left fusiform gyrus (BA 37), left inferior parietal lobule (BA 39), left inferior temporal gyrus (BA 20), and left somatosensory association cortex (BA 7). However, right ST36-ST41 EA significantly decreased rCBF in the right parahippocampal gyrus (BA 35), right cerebellum, left frontopolar area (BA 10), left orbitofrontal area (BA 11), left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 9), and left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (BA 32). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that rightST36-ST41 EA increased rCBF prominently in both inferior parietal lobule (BA 40) and right retrosubicular area (BA 48), which suggest that there be correlation between specific EA and corresponding rCBF.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.125-145
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• 2009

Objectives : To analyze the inclusion criteria of participants, control group interventions, and the results of prior studies of acupuncture for OA. Also to identify aspects of the procedure that are associated with positive outcomes in order to establish ideal acupuncture treatment model. And to assess the methodological quality of the trials with modified Jadad score and FEAS in order to evaluate the quality of prior studies and find out whether or not acupuncture has a positive effect in treating OA. Methods : Articles up to the date of November 2008 were searched via computerized databases of PubMed, Journal of Korean Oriental Medicine, The Journal of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society and Journal of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine. Bibliographies of reviewed papers were also searched and reviewed. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews concerning the effects of acupuncture or electroacupuncture (EA) on symptoms of osteoarthritis of the human knee, published in English and Korean were included. The acupuncture treatment methods of the reviewed trials were assessed based on STRICTA. And the methodological quality of the trials was assessed by modified Jadad score and FEAS. Results : Twenty one trials of acupuncture for OA were analyzed. Based on the results of this review the following factors might contribute to optimal results from acupuncture treatment. 1) Usage of $ST_{35}$, $GB_{34$, $EX_{32}$, $ST_{36}$ and $SP_9$ acupuncture points. 2) More than four acupuncture points should be used. 3) More than 15 minutes of needle retention time. 4) Needle length-40mm and diameter-0.30mm 5) Usage of EA 6) more than 10 times treatment 7) Treatment frequency of more than once a week, 8) Treatment duration longer than 6 to 8 weeks. Conclusions : High quality clinical trials of Acupuncture for OA is still in lack. Future investigators must concentrate their attentions on the quality of acupuncture treatment itself used in the trials as well as the methodological quality of trials.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3 s.39
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• pp.36-44
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• 1999

Objectives: It has been well known that electroacupuncture(EA) has an analgesic effect and there is a pain control system in the central nervous system(CNS). The pain control system is composed of three major nuclei, which are periaqueductal gray(PAG), raphe nuclei, and the pain inhibitory complex located in the spinal cord. It has been suggested that the analgesic effect of EA might be the result of activation of the pain control system in the CNS. However, there may be a possibility that other nuclei are also involved in this pain modulation. Thus, we investigated whether the posterior intralaminar thalamic nuclei (PTIN) are involved in the pain modulation. Methods: To measure the level of pain, the jaw opening reflex (JOR) was used as a pain index. The magnitude of JOR is estimated by averaging the area of 10 successive responses. JOR was evoked by tooth-pulp stimulation with bipolar electrode carrying stimulus with the following parameters: intensity ranging from 420uA to 680ulA, 0.3ms duration of square pulse, and 0.5 Hz. Hapkog($LI_4$) and Taechung ($LR_3$) were the chosen acupoints. The Hapkog point was stimulated ipsilaterally at 5V, 3 Hz, for 15min in total, and the Taechung was stimulated at 2-3 V, 3 Hz, and for a total of 15 or 30 minutes. Different intensities of stimulation were given the PITN; one was given at $300{\mu}A$ and the other was at 500uA. The position stimulated in these nuclei by Paxinos Atlas was AP; from bregma $-4.0{\sim}-4.3mm,\;L; 0.5{\sim}1.8mm,\;D;\;4.8{\sim}6.3mm$. Results: The Hapkog point had a significant analgesic effect (P<0.05). However, the Taechung point had no effect. Both types of stimulation in the PITN did not reveal any analgesic effects. Conclusions: From these results, it was suggested that the posterior intralaminar thalamic nuclei are not involved in the modulation of pain.

• The Journal of Traditional Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was produced to examine the effects of moxibustion that had been played important role to traditional oriental medical treatment on disease. Recently, it was reported that moxi-tar which is generated in the process of moxibustion as burning combustibles decreased nitric oxide(NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) generation in cellular experiments. Methods: Carrageenan-induced arthritis rat model was used to test the effect of moxi-tar as a chronic pain model. Diluted moxi-tar was single injected in several acupoints or combined with electroacupuncture (l ms, 2 Hz, and 2 mA) into contralateral ST36 acupoint for 30 min to assess the synergic effects. After the treatment, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 12 hours. Endogenous NO and iNOS, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord were examined on a rat model of carrageenan-induced arthritis. Results : After the induction of arthritis, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for at least the next 4 days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful knee, since oral injection of indomethacin produced temporary improvement of weight bearing. Maxi-tar produced significant improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the arthritis lasting at least 9 hours. The magnitude of this improvement was equivalent to that obtained after an oral injection of 3 mg/kg of indomethacin and this improvement of stepping force was interpreted as an analgesic effect. Maxi-tar produced the improvement of stepping force of the affected hindlimb in a dose-dependent manner. Both NO production and iNOS, COX-2 protein expression increased by arthritis were suppressed by maxi-tar. Moxi-tar on combination with electroacupuncture (EA) produced more powerful and longer lasting improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the arthritis than either moxi-tar or EA did. Conclusion : The present study suggest that maxi-tar produces a potent analgesic effect on the chronic knee arthritis pain model in the rat and that moxi-tar-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of iNOS/COX-2 protein expression.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.26-40
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• 2002

Objective : The aim of this study was to examine the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) at the PC6 (Naegwan) on nomal humans using power spectrum analysis. Methods : Electroencephalogram(EEG) is a multi-scaled signal consisting of several components of time series with different dominant frequency ranges and different origins. EEG power spectrum exibit site-specific and state-related differences in specific frequency bands. In this study, power spectrum was used as a measure of complexity. 30 channel EEG study was carried out in 8 subjects (8 males; age=$21.4{\pm}0.5$ years). Results : We found that the power values of the alpha wave at F7 channel (P<0.05) were highered than during the acupuncture treatment, and the power values of the delta wave at TCP1, CP1, TCP2, T5 channels(P<0.05) were lowered than during the acupuncture treatment. However, the comparison with that before and after the treatment shows no significant differences in all channels.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.91-106
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• 2003

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine the effects of electroacupuncture(EA) at the PC6(Naegwan) and the TE5 (Oegwan) on nounal humans using power spectral analysis. Methods : EEG power spectrum exhibit site-specific and state-related differences in specific frequency bands. In this study, power spectrum was used as a measure of complexity. 30 channel EEG study was carried out in 30 subjects(30 males ; age=23.7 years). Results : In ${\alpha}$(alpha) band, the power values at F7 channels(p<0.05) during the PC6-acupoint treatment were significantly were decreased. In ${\beta}$(beta) band, the power values at Fp1, Fz, TT1, T5, P3, P4, Po1, P02, O1, Oz, O2 channels(p<0.05) during the non-acupoint treatment and at Fp1, F4, F8 channels(p<0.05) during the TE5-acupoint treatment significantly were increased. In ${\theta}$(theta) band, the power values at Fp1 channels(p<0.05) during the non-acupoint treatment and at Oz channels(p<0.05) the TE5-acupoint treatment significantly were increased. but, the power values at F7 channels(p<0.05) during the non-acupoint treatment were significantly were decreased. In ${\delta}$(delta) band, the power values at TCP1, TCP2, CP1, T5 channels(p<0.05) during PC6-acupoint treatment were increased and the power values at F7, TT2 channels(p<0.05) during non-acupoint treatment were increased. but, the power values at the TE5-acupoint treatment significantly was decreased than the before-acupuncture treatment.