• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.183-194
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• 2009

Purpose : This study was performed not only to compare the brain activation regions associated with sexual arousal induced by visual stimulation and SP6 acupuncture, but also to evaluate its differential neuro-anatomical mechanism in healthy women using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3 Tesla (T). Subjects and methods : A total of 21 healthy right-handed female volunteers (mean age 22 years, range 19 to 32) underwent fMRI on a 3T MR scanner. The stimulation paradigm for sexual arousal consisted of two alternating periods of rest and activation. It began with a 1-minute rest period, 3 minutes of stimulation with either of an erotic video film or SP6 acupuncture, followed by 1-minute rest. In addition, a comparative study on the brain activation patterns between an acupoint and a shampoint nearby GB37 was performed. The fMRI data were obtained from 20 slices parallel to the AC-PC line on an axial plane, giving a total of 2,000 images. The mean activation maps were constructed and analyzed by using the statistical parametric mapping (SPM99) software. Results : As comparison with the shampoint, the acupoint showed 5 times and 2 times higher activities in the neocortex and limbic system, respectively. Note that brain activation in response to stimulation with the shampoint was not observed in the regions including the HTHL in the diencephalon, GLO and AMYG in the basal ganglia, and SMG in the parietal lobe. In the comparative study of visual stimulation vs. SP6 acupuncture, the mean activation ratio of stimulus was not significantly different to each other in both the neocortex and the limbic system (p < 0.05). The mean activities induced by both stimuli were not significantly different in the neocortex, whereas the acupunctural stimulation showed higher activity in the limbic system (p < 0.05). Conclusions : This study compared the differential brain activation patterns and the neural mechanisms for sexual arousal, which were induced by visual stimulation and SP6 acupuncture by using 3T fMRI. These findings will be useful to understand the theory of traditional acupuncture and acupoint channel in scientific point of view.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.8-16
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• 2014

Purpose The quantitative analysis of gallbladder emptying is very important in diagnosis of motility disorder of gallbladder and in biliary physiology. The GBEF obtain the statics aquisition method or the dynamic acquisition method in two ways. The purpose of this study is to compare the GBEF value of statics acquisition method and the dynamic acquisition method. And we find the best way for calculate GBEF. Materials and Methods The quantitative hepatobiliary scan with $^{99m}Tc$-mebrofenin was performed of 27 patients. Initial images were acquired statically, for 60 min after injection of the radioactive tracer. And if the gallbladder is visualized to 60 min, performed stimulation of gallbladder (1egg, 200 mL milk). After that, started acquisition of dynamic image for 30 min. After that, image of after fatty meal of the statics method were acquired on equal terms with 60 min image. The statics GBEF was calculated using the images of before fatty meal and post fatty meal by the statics method. The dynamic GBEF was calculated using the images of time of maximum bile juice uptake ($T_{max}$) and time of minimum bile juice uptake ($T_{min}$) images from the gallbladder time-activity curve. A bile juice is secreted from gallbladder while eating a fatty meal. that is named early GBEF and that was calculated using before fatty meal image of the statics method and 1 min image of the dynamic method. Results The result saw very big difference between two according to $T_{max}$. The result, were as follows. 1) In case of less than 1 min, the dynamic mean GBEF was $40.1{\pm}21.7%$, the statics mean GBEF was $51.5{\pm}23.6%$ in 16 cases. The early mean GBEF was $14.0{\pm}29.1%$. The GBEF of statics method was higher because that include secreted bile juice while performed stimulation of gallbladder. A difference of GB counts according to acquisition method and the early bile juice counts was $17.6{\pm}14.8%$ and $13.5{\pm}15.3%$. 2) In case of exceed than 1 min, the dynamic mean GBEF was $31.0{\pm}19.7%$, the statics mean GBEF was $21.3{\pm}19.4%$ in 7 cases. The early GBEF was $-6.9{\pm}4.9%$. The GBEF of dynamic method was higher because that include concentrated bile juice to $T_{max}$. A difference of GB counts according to acquisition method and the early bile juice counts was $14.3{\pm}7.3%$ and $5.9{\pm}3.9%$. Conclusion The statics method is very easy and simple, but in case of $T_{max}$ delay, the GBEF can be lower. The dynamic method is able to calculate accurately in case of $T_{max}$ delay, but in case of $T_{max}$ is less than 1 min, the GBEF can be lower because dynamic GBEF exclude secreted bile juice while performed stimulation of gallbladder. The best way to calculate GBEF is to scan with dynamic method preferentially and to choose suitable method between the two way after conform $T_{max}$ on the T-A curve of the dynamic method.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2020

Recurrent bacterial meningitis is the reappearance of two or more episodes of meningitis caused by a different or same organism after an intervening period of full convalescence. Predisposing factors for recurrent bacterial meningitis include immunodeficiency and developmental and traumatic anatomical defects. Therefore, careful evaluation of children with recurrent meningitis is essential. We report the case of a patient with a skull base abnormality who had suffered from four events of bacterial meningitis between 8 and 17 years of age. He experienced another event of bacterial meningitis at the age of 21, without undergoing correction for the anatomical defect. Streptococcus agalactiae was identified in the patient's blood and cerebrospinal fluid culture. Afterwards, he underwent surgical treatment for a meningioma; this meningioma was strongly suspected as the cause of the recurrence.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.83-97
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• 2008

Objectives : We investigated the effects of distilled Rehmannia glutinosa Herbal Acupuncture on autonomic nervous system with the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) in adult man. as well as we tried to observe how distilled Rehmannia glutinosa Herbal Acupuncture on the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Methods : We investigated on 58 healthy volunteers consisted of 28 subjects in experiment(distilled Rehmannia glutinosa Herbal Acupuncture) group and 30 subjects in control(Normal Saline) group. Study form was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. 28 subjects in experiment group were injected distilled Rehmannia glutinosa Herbal Acupuncture at $GB_{21}$(Kyonjong) and 30 subjects in control group were injected Normal Saline at $G_{21}$(Kyonjong). except of 2 subjects(in control group) who can't be measured and 6 subjects(2 in experiment group and 4 in control group) who move or make unforceable error during measuring. Finally 26 subject in experiment group and 24 subject in control group are studied. We measured HRV by PolyG-I on 7 times : before and after injection per 5 minutes during 30 minutes. The SPSS 10.0 for windows was used to analyze the data and the paired t-test(in group) and Student t-test(between two groups) were used to verify the result. Results : 1. After distilled Rehmannia glutinosa Herbal Acupuncture injection, Mean HRV is significantly low only for first 5 minute, SDNN is significantly high after 5 minute, Complexity is significantly low only from 20 minute to 25 minute. HRV index is significantly high for first 5minute and from 10 minute to after 10 minute. 2. HRV index of distilled Rehmannia glutinosa Herbal Acupuncture Group significantly increased from 25 minute to 30 minute, and pNN50 of Rehmannia glutinosa Herbal Acupuncture Group significantly decreased from 20 minute to 30 minute compared with those of Normal Saline group. 3. After distilled Rehmannia glutinosa Herbal Acupuncture injection, Ln(TP) and Ln(VLF) are significantly high after injection. Normalized LF is significantly high from 5 minute to 20 minute and from 25 minute and 30 minute. Normalized HF is significantly low from 5minute to 20 minute and from 25 minute and 30 minute. 4. Ln(TP) and Ln(VLF) of distilled Rehmannia glutinosa Herbal Acupuncture Group significantly increased from 20 minute to 25 minute compared with those of Normal Saline group. Conclusions : The results suggest that Rehmannia glutinosa Herbal Acupuncture in healthy adult man tend to activate the autonomic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system compared to Normal Saline within normal range.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.177-186
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study is to report a case of a 51-year-old patient with Herpes zoster, whose symptoms were relieved within five weeks after the East-west medical combined treatment. Methods : A Herpes zoster patient with extreme pain around the right lower ribs and lower back was admitted into the Korean medicine hospital. Bee venom acupuncture was applied directly onto the site of pain and electroacupuncture was applied on $GV_6-BL_{20}$, inferior site of spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra-$BL_{21}$, $GV_5-BL_{22}$, $GV_4-BL_{23}$ six times a week. Moxibustion was applied on $BL_{49}$, $BL_{50}$, $BL_{51}$, $BL_{52}$, $GB_{25}$, $LR_{13}$ six times a week, and the patient took daily doses of herbal medicine and western medicines such as anticonvulsants, analgesics, antiepileptics. The patient's symptoms were evaluated with numeric rating scale(NRS) and neuropathic pain scale(NPS). Results : The results were as follows: 1. After the East-west medical combined treatment, the NRS grade decreased from 8 to 1. 2. On the neuropathic pain scale, the patient's symptoms changed from deep sharp pain and burning sensation to superficial dull pain and coldness. Sensitivity to touch, discomfort, and itchiness also decreased. Sudden attacks of pain appeared 14 to 21 days after onset, but disappeared after final treatment. Conclusions : The results of the above patient suggests that the East-west medical combined treatment may be effective for total remission of herpes zoster. Further research is needed to confirm such effects.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 1998

Purpose : Carcinomas arising in the gall bladder(GB) or extrahepatic biliary ducts are uncommon and generally have a poor prognosis. The overall 5-year survival rates are less than $10\%$. Early experiences with the external radiation therapy demonstrated a good palliation with occasional long-term survival. The present report describes our experience over the past decade with irradiation of primary carcinomas of the gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary duct. Materials and Methods : From Feb. 1984 to Nov. 1995, thirty-three patients with carcinoma of the GB and extrahepatic biliary duct were treated with external beam radiotherapy with curative intent at our institution. All patients were treated with 4-MV linear accelerator and radiation dose ranged from 31.44Gy to 54.87Gy(median 44.25Gy), and three Patients received additional intraluminal brachytherapy(range, 25Gy to 30Gy). Twenty-seven Patients received postoperative radiation. Among 27 patients, Sixteen patients underwent radical operation with curative aim and the rest of the patients either had bypass surgery or biopsy alone. In seventeen patients, adjuvant chemotherapy was used and eleven patients were treated with 5-FU, mitomycin and leucovorin. Results : Median follow up period was 8.5 months(range 2-97 months). The overall 2-year and 5-year survival rates in all patients were $29.9\%$ and $13.3\%$ respectively. In patients with GB and extrahepatic biliary duct carcinomas, the 2-year survival rates were $34.5\%$ and $27.8\%$ respectively. Patients who underwent radical operation showed better 2-year survival rates than those who underwent palliative operation($43.8\%\;vs.\;20.7\%$), albeit statistically insignificant(p>0.05). The 2-year survival rates in Stage I and II were higher than in Stage III and IV with statistical significance(p<0.05). Patients with good performance status in the beginning showed significantly better survival rates than those with worse status(p<0.05). The 2-year survival rates in combined chemotherapy group and radiation group were $40.5\%$ and $22.0\%$ respectively. There was no statistical differences in two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion : The survival of patients with relatively lower stage and/or initial good performance was significantly superior to that of others. We found an statistically insignificant trend toward better survival in patients with radical operation and/or chemotherapy, More radical treatment strategies, such as total resection with intensive radiation and/or chemotherapy may offer a better chance for cure in selective patients with carcinoma of gall bladder and extrahepatic biliary ducts.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.208-214
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• 2003

Purpose : We performed a retrospective study on bacterial meningitis in children, pertaining to the causative organisms, bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the effect of recent introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b(Hib) vaccine. Methods : We analysed the forty-three cases of bacterial meningitis which had been treated at the Inha University Hospital from June 1996 to June 2003. Results : Nineteen cases(44.2%) of them were infants younger than 2 months of age, and 29 cases(67.5%) younger than 1 year of age. The common causative organisms under 2 months of age were group B streptococcus(GBS)(47.4%), E. coli(21.1%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae(21.1%). In the age group beyond 2 months of age, S. pneumoniae were seen in 50 %, H. influenzae in 16.7% and N. meningitidis in 16.7%. All of the five cases of Hib meningitis had not been vaccinated for Hib. There has been no Hib meningitis cases since 2001. Overall fatality rate was 4.5%, and complication occurred in 39%. Complications was significantly less frequent in patients resumed to be treated within 48 hours after onset compared to after 48 hours after onset. Penicillin resistance of S. pneumoniae and GBS isolated among bacterial meningitis cases was high. Conclusion : Timing of treatment after the onset of the disease appeared the most important factor for prognosis of bacterial meningitis. The cases of H. influenzae meningitis have decreased probably due to Hib vaccination.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.125-141
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• 2008

Objective : The aim of this study is to investigate the curative effect of Bee Venom Acupuncture Therapy for pain and limited R.O.M (range of motion) of shoulder in stroke patients. Methods : The subjects of this study were 6 patients with shoulder pain in stroke sequelae. Routine Oriental Medical programs (Acupunture, moxibustion, herbal medicine and physical therapy) were maintained for each subject throughout this study. Single subject ABABAB design was adopted. Each period was 4 days as a rule. Only during the treatment period, Bee Venom Acupuncture Therapy was provided as intervention at the acupoints of LI15(Gyeonu),　TE14(Gyeollyo), GB21(Gyeonjeong), LI14(Bino). The change of pain was measured with a Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). The pain threshold was measured using pressure algometer at the same acupoints where Bee Venom Acupuncture Therapy was provided. And the R.O.M of shoulder joint (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation, internal rotation) was measured as well. Analysis was performed by Bayesian analysis using WinBUGS for the comparison of treatment(Bee Venom Acupuncture Therapy) and non-treatment. Results : The median overall improvement for difference in VAS was -2.219(-3.213, -1.175), for difference in external rotation of shoulder R.O.M was 9.992(-2.298, 18.49), for difference in tenderness score of LI14(Bino) by pressure algometer was 5.05(0.6283, 7.762). 95% credibility intervals being shown in brackets. However, the median overall improvement for difference in the other measurements was not significant. Conclusion : This study suggests that Bee Venom Therapy may be applicable to decrease pain and improve R.O.M of shoulder in hemiplegia patients with stroke. Further elaborated single subject designs need to be accumulated to confirm the effects of Bee Venom Acupunture Therapy on shoulder pain in patients with stroke sequelae.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.123-136
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• 2004

Objective : Because the cause and etiology of chronic headache is not yet fully explained, the treatment of this symptom is not simple. This study compares the effects of aroma acupuncture and normal acupuncture applied on chronic headache patients, in order to establish a primary data for further studies of new treatments and developments of new practical acupunctures. Methods : 38 clinical experiment participants were gathered and through a questionnaire patients who experienced headache for more than 4 hours a day and more than 15 days per month were qualified as Chronic Headache patients. The qualified patients were classified in to two groups, aroma acupuncture group(Aroma AT group, n=23) and normal acupuncture group(AT group, n=15). Treatment was applied 2 times a weeks for 8 weeks. The acupoints, GV20, HN23, ST8, HN46, TE17, GB20, LI20, LI11, LI14, ST36, and LR3 were stimulated for 20 minutes in both the groups. The effects of both groups were analyzed using VAS scores and BPI (Brief Pain Inventory). Results : The VAS pain scores improved significantly in both groups. The decrease rate was larger in the Aroma AT group(p<0.05). The BPI scores for the both groups also decreased. The improvement in the Aroma AT group was larger(p<0.05). Conclusion : Aroma acupuncture applied on chronic headache patients showed effects of relieving pain, improving general activities, changing the mood, and improving sleeping behaviors. These effects were analyzed using VAS scores and BPI. The Aroma AT group showed significant changes of VAS and BPI compared to the AT group, suggesting that this new practical acupuncture is very effective when treating chronic headaches. Further researches are needed to evaluate the distinct functional mechanism of aroma acupuncture, but this study is meaningful in the sense that it will act as a fundamental study to build on.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.59-68
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• 2004

Objective : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture with various scales on symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Methods : Subjects were voluntarily recruited by newspapers and internet. All the subjects are confirmed as idiopathic parkinson's disease by a neurologist. The acupuncture therapy was performed twice a week for 8 weeks. Acupuncture points for EA group were GB34, and LR3, electrical stimulation frequency was 120Hz, duration 15 minutes, and intensity is up to pain threshold according to patients. The patient's symptoms were assessed before, after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks treatments by unified Parkinson's disease rating scale(UPDRS), modified Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y) stage, Schwab & England activity of daily living and freezing of gait questionnaire(FOGQ). Results : UPDRS I, II, III, IV and total UPDRS scores were significantly improved after 4 weeks(p<0.05) and after 8 weeks(p<0.05) compared to the pre-treatment. The scores of ADL were significantly improved after 4 weeks(p<0.05) and after 8 weeks(p<0.05). There were significant changes in H-Y stage after 4 weeks(p<0.05), but There were no significant changes in H-Y stage after 8 weeks. There were significant changes in FOGQ scale after 4 weeks(p<0.05) and after 8 weeks(p<0.05). Conclusion : This study suggests that electroacupuncutre treatments can be applicable to improve symptoms in the patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.