• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.177-193
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• 2003

Objective : The present studies investigated the effects of 120Hz high frequency electroacupunctue(EA) on the stress-induced stomach dysfunction in relation to its effect on the level of stress hormone and gastric mucosal damages. The gastric mucosal injury was induced by cold-restraint stress and two acupoints corresponding to Zusanli and Sanyinjiao in man were used. Methods: Cold-restraint stress produced typical gastric lesions in all rats of the stressed groups, but he number of ulcers as well as the mean ulcer diameter were reduced by 120 Hz EA pre-treatment. The cold-restraint stress also induced an increase in catecholamine response involving epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, but an slight decline were observed in EA pre-treated rats compared with cold-restrained rats. Results: The degranulation value of gastric mast cell was significantly higher in cold-restrained rats than in control ones. However, with the significant reduction of degranulation values of gastric mast cells in EA pre-treated rats compared with cold-restrained ones, $PGE_2$ content in the gastric mucosa of EA pre-treated rats was also different from that observed in cold-restrained rats. Cold-restraint stress induced an elevated mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory gene such as cyclooxygenases-2 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$, but these expression were down-regulated in EA pre-treated rats. Immunohistochemecal analysis showed that while the inhibitory-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ an TNF-${\alpha}$ immunoreaction in the surface epithelium of the stomach tended to increase, both reactions in the EA pre-treated rats showed similar pattern as observed in controls. Conclusions : These results suggest that 120 Hz EA may act as a therapeutical means for gastric mucosal damages through a activation of pituitary adrenal system. it could be concluded that 120 hz high frequency electroacupuncture affords a good protective potential against stress-induce gastrointestinal dysfunction.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-21
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• 2001

The influence of electroacupuncture (EA), a traditional Chinese medical treatment, on type Ⅱ collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was examined in DBA/1J mice in vivo. Mice were immunized intradermally twice at the 3-week interval with bovine type Ⅱ collagen(C Ⅱ). EA stimulation, begun on the 21 simultaneously with the second immunization, was applied at the acupoint equivalent to GV4 three times a week for 3 weeks. The results showed that EA delayed the onset, attenuated the severity of arthritis, and reduced the anti-collagen antibody level. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of EA on the productions of endogenous $interleukin-1{\Beta}$ (IL-1 beta) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and the levels of IL-1 beta mRNA in splenocytes and synovial tissues from C Ⅱ immunized mice on the 45 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages of normal mice by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). EA stimulation significant inhibited the concentrations of splenic endogenous IL-1 beta and serum PGE2. The expression of IL-1 beta mRNA in spleen cells was obviously down-regulated and that in synovial tissues was modestly affected by EA. COX-2 mRNA was highly expressed in cultured peritoneal macrophages when stimulated with LPS. Previous treatment with EA also reduced LPS-stimulated induction of COX-2 mRNA. These data suggest that EA has an inhibitory effect on murine CIA, and the partial mechanism of its therapeutic result may be attributed to inhibiting the productions of IL-1 beta and PGE2 by suppression the IL-1 beta and COX-2 gene activations.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.108-117
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• 2003

Objective : The central opioid mechanism of acupuncture analgesia has been fairly well documented in acute behavioral experiments, but little electrophysiological study has been performed on the peripheral mechanism and subtypes of opioid receptors responsible for acupuncture-induced antinociception in chronic animal models. In the present electrophysiological experiment, we studied the peripheral mechanism and opioid receptor subtypes which Were implicated in electroacupuncture-induced antinociception in the rat with chronic inflammatory and neurogenic pain. Methods : In the rat with complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammation and spinal nerve injury, dorsal horn cell responses to afferent C fiber stimulation were recorded before and after electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation applied to the contralateral Zusanli point for 30 minutes. Also studied Were the effects of specific opioid receptor antagonists and naloxone methiodide, which can not cross the blood-brain barrier, on EA-induced inhibitory action. Results : EA-induced inhibitory action was significantly attenuated by naloxone methiodide, suggesting that EA-induced inhibition was mediated through peripheral mechanism. Pretreatment, but not posttreatment of naltrexone and spinal application significantly blocked EA-induced inhibitory actions. In inflammatory and neurogenic pain models, ${\mu}-$ and ${\delta}-opioid$ receptor antagonists (${\beta}-funaltrexamine$ & naltrindole) significantly reduced EA-induced inhibitory action, but ${\kappa}-opioid$ receptor antagonist had weak inhibitory effect on EA-induced antinociception. Conclusion : These results suggest that 2Hz EA-stimulation induced antinoeiceptive action is mediated through peripheral as well as central mechanism, and mainly through ${\mu}-$ and ${\delta}-opioid$ receptors.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.55-71
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• 2006

Objectives : The present study was investigated the effect and pathway of heterotopic electroacupuncture (EA) on pain induced by formalin in rats. Methods : Acupoints in the right forepaws, $HT_7$ and $PC_7$, were stimulated with 3 mA, 2 ms, and 10 Hz before subcutaneously formalin injection (5%, $50{\mu}l$) to the left hind paw. Moreover, it was investigated whether the dorsolateral funiculus (DLF), as known to the descending inhibition, mediates analgesia of the heterotopic EA, and an administration of naltrexone blocks the effect of EA. Results : In the immunohistochemistry of cFos-like protein (cFL), there were inhibitory effects of EA on the increased expression of cFL in the lumbar spinal dorsal horn neurons following formalin injection. Especially, EA inhibited the expression of cFL on the superficial laminae than that on the deep laminae at 1 hr after, but that on the deep laminae than that on the superficial laminae at 2 hr after. Also, EA suppressed the increased expression of nitric oxide (NO) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the lumbosacral spinal cord after formalin injection, but not Sham-EA. Suppressed expressions of cFL, NO and nNOS in the spinal cord were eliminated after transection of the ipsilateral DLF at $T_{10}{\sim}T_{11}$ levels. However, pretreatment of naltrexone could not prevent the suppressive expressions of cFL, NO and nNOS at the spinal cord. Conclusions : These results suggest that the analgesia of heterotopic EA may be modulated through the DLF constituting the descending inhibition.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2019

Objectives This study is designed to verify the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) on both side acupuncture point GB12, GB20 for chronic tension type headache (CTTH). Methods Subjects aged 18-65 years who had suffered from CTTH for more than 3months were recruited from September 2016 to May 2017. Thirty subjects were voluntarily recruited and they were randomly divided into 2 groups; 15 to EA group, another 15 to sham-EA group. The treatment sessions were performed every 2-4 days for a total of three sessions over 1 week. The symptoms of headache were assessed before the treatment and after a week from the last treatment by visual analogue scale (VAS), headache frequency (HF), Korean Headache Impact Test-6 (KHIT-6). Demographic characteristics of all participants were compared between the groups upon using chi-square test. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to evaluate the values between baseline and follow-up. Wilcoxon rank sum test was performed to evaluate the differences between groups. p-values less than 0.05 were considered as significant. Results Before and after the intervention, no difference in VAS and KHIT-6 was observed between groups. HF of EA group decreased significantly compared with that of sham-EA group. Within the EA group VAS, HF and KHIT-6 decreased significantly after the treatment. Meanwhile, only KHIT-6 decreased significantly after the treatment in sham-EA group. Conclusions This study suggests that EA on both side acupuncture point GB12 and GB20 is applicable to improve symptoms in patients with CTTH.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.140-150
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• 2009

Purpose: We investigated the efficacy of electroacupuncture therapy in obese Korean women in order to make basic guidelines for the use of oriental medicine in treating obesity. Methods: Forty women were divided into two groups and each was treated 12 times: 1) one group was treated using electroacupuncture (EA) involving auricular acupuncture and physical treatment, without exercise (EA group, n=10), and 2) the other group was treated using electroacupuncture and exercise (EA plus exercise group, n=30). The EA was applied to subcutaneous fat tissue manually. Body weight was evaluated every visit and body composition was checked at the $1^{st}$ and $12^{th}$ visits. Statistical comparisons were made using SPSS13.0. We compared the weight loss, body mass index (BMI), and body composition before and after treatment using the pairedt-test. The correlations between weight loss and BMI and age were examined. Results: After the $12^{th}$ treatment, both groups showed significant reductions in body weight, BMI, body fat, and body fat percentage. The weight loss averaged 4.58${\pm}$3.87% in the EA group and 4.69${\pm}$3.10% in the EA plus Exercise group. The reduction in skeletal muscle was significant in the EA group, but not significant in the EA plus Exercise group. The speed of the weight loss was correlated with age using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Based on BMI, normal and obese subjects in the EA plus Exercise group had significant reductions in body weight, BMI, body fat, and body fat percentage; the obese subjects also had a significant reduction in skeletal muscle. Conclusion: Combined EA therapy may be effective for weight reduction. Age and BMI were related to weight loss using EA therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.81-97
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• 2007

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-oxidative effect of electroacupuncture at Kokchi($LI_{11}$) in rats. Methods: A study administer AAPH to the abdominal cavity of rats and stimulate Kokchi($LI_{11}$) of the rat that lead to oxidative stress by electropuncture. And the study survey serum albumin, total bilirubin, LDL-cholesterol, LDH, Glucose, GOT, GPT and measure SOD activity, GSH concentration, catalase activity, NO concentration, MDA concentration. Results: 1. At the analysis of blood chemistry Albumin and Glucose significantly increase at $LI_{11}$-NR group, $LI_{11}$-EA group than at control group and holder group. LDL cholesterol, GOT, GPT decrease meaningfully. 2. As results of measurement at liver, SOD, Catalase represnet significantly increase at $LI_{11}$-NR group and $LI_{11}$-EA group than at control group and holder group. 3. Glutathione has some increases at the $LI_{11}$-NR group and $LI_{11}$-EA group than at the control group and the holder group. 4. As a result of measurement of NO and MDA's content, the content of NO decrease at the $LI_{11}$-NR group than at the control group. That reduces more meaningfully at the $LI_{11}$-EA group than at the control group. MDA has a significant decrease at the $LI_{11}$-NR group and the $LI_{11}$-EA group. 5. At the histological analysis, the study confirm that the density of intracellular cytoplasm in the liver tissue decreases at the control group as compared with the Normal group and the size of cell increases. Conclusions : These results suppose that electroacupuncture at $LI_{11}$ has an anti-oxidant effect in human.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.9-15
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• 2006

Skeletal muscle injury occurs frequently in sports medicine and is the most general form of injury followed by physical impact. There are growth factors which conduct proliferation, differentiation, and synthesis of myogenic prodromal cells and regulate vascular generation for the continued survival of myocytes. The purpose of the present study was to confirm the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and electrical stimulation (ES) on muscle recovery processes according to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into 2 experimental groups and a controlled group. All animals had suffered from crush damage in the extensor digitorum longus for 30 seconds and were killed 1, 3, and 7 days after injury. 30 Hz and 1 mA impulsion for 15 minutes was applied to the EA experimental groups Zusanli (ST36) and Taichong (LR3) using electroacupuncture and the same stimulation was applied to the ES group using an electrical node. Hematoxyline-Eosin staining and VEGF immunohistochemistry were used to ascertain the resulting muscle recovery. There were few morphological differences between the EA and ES groups, and both groups were observed to have tendencies to decrease atrophy as time passed. In the controlled group, gradually diminishing atrophy could be observed, but their forms were mostly disheveled. There were few differences in VEGF expression between the EA and ES groups, and tendencies to have an increased quantity of VEGF with the lapse of time were observed in both groups. In the controlled group, a little VEGF expression could be observed merely 7 days after injury. In conclusion, EA and ES contributed to muscle recovery processes and could be used for the treatment of muscle injury.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.139-154
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• 2008

Objectives & Methods : The purpose of this study is to observe the anti-oxidative effects of electroacupuncture to Yinlingquan(SP9) in AAPH induced oxidative stress of rats. The author performed several experimental items including measurements of body weight, levels of albumin, total bilirubin, LDL-cholesterol, GOT and GPT in serum, levels of SOD, glutathione, catalase, NO and MDA in liver, histological analysis of liver. The conclusions are as follows. Results : 1. In the SP9-EA group, the level of LDL-cholesterol was significantly decreased in comparison with that of the holder group and control group. 2. In the SP9-EA group, SOD activity, glutathione concentration in liver were increased, and NO concentration was decreased significantly in comparison with those of the control group and the holder group. 3. In the SP9-EA group, the density of liver tissue was maintained more similarly to the normal group in comparison with those of the control group and the holder group. 5. The results of the SP9-NR group showed similar tendencies with those of the SP9-EA group, but the effects were lower than those of the SP9-EA group. Conclusion : These results suggest that electroacupuncture at SP9 has an anti oxidative effect through suppressing both the reduction of anti-oxidative enzymes and production of oxidized substances.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.81-96
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of the present study is to determine the effective analgesic parameters of manual acupuncture (MA) and/or electroacupuncture (EA), thus how MA & EA of specific acupoint works after acute ankle sprain in rats. Thus, one series of experiments was designed to analyze the analgesic effects of acupuncture in either the normal or sprained rat, by comparing the behavioral features before and after MA or EA at several acupoints. Methods : Ankle sprain was induced manually by hyper-extension of ligaments of the right ankle in rat. Either MA or EA was applied to the LI4, TE17, 足三里 and SI-6 acupoints at an intensity of 2 mA (1 ms pulse duration) with a frequency of 10 Hz for 30 minutes. Results : Behaviorally, manual acupuncture or electroacupuncture produced potent analgesic effects on acute ankle sprained animals as measured by weight bearing capacity of the affected limb. Furthermore, antinociceptive effect of EA was suppressed by alpha adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) but not by opioid antagonist naltrexone (10 mg/kg, i.p.). Conclusions : It is suggested that acupuncture-induced antinociception may involve the descending inhibition of ${\alpha}2$-adrenoceptor.