• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.104-121
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• 2020

Objectives : Since neuropathic pain shows a variety of symptoms via various mechanisms, there are many difficulties in treatment and various treatments have been tried. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Araliae Continentalis Radix pharmacopuncture (ACR) on neuropathic pain. Methods : After dividing the white rats into six groups, the sciatic nerves of five groups except the normal group were excised to induce neuropathic pain. Except normal and control group, the other four groups were given: saline (Saline group), ACR 1.100 mg/kg (ACR 1 group), ACR 2.743 mg/kg (ACR 2 group), and ACR 5.486 mg/kg (ACR 3 group) at GB30, twice a week for a total of six times in three weeks. Withdrawal response react time and force intensity, c-Fos, TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-γ were observed to investigate the efficacy of ACR in each group. Body weight, WBC, RBC, HGB, PLT, AST, ALT, BUN, and Cr changes were observed to check the safety of ACR. Results : Both withdrawal response react time & force intensity were significantly increased in the ACR2 and ACR3 groups at 3 weeks. C-Fos tended to decrease in all ACR groups and significantly decreased in ACR3 group. In blood serum, TNF-α showed a tendency to decrease in all ACR groups and a significant decrease in ACR3 group. But IL-6 and IFN-γ did not change significantly in all experimental groups. In the spinal cord, IFN-γ was significantly decreased in the ACR3 group. But TNF-α and IL-6 were not significantly changed in all experimental groups. Body weight was not changed significantly in all experimental groups. RBC increased significantly in ACR2 group, HGB increased in ACR3 group, and PLT increased significantly in all experimental groups. ALT significantly decreased in ACR1 group, and there were no significant changes in AST, BUN, and Cr in all experimental groups. Conclusions : At high concentrations, ACR pharmacopuncture reduced c-Fos, and TNF-α in the blood serum and IFN-γ in the spinal cord thereby suppressed allodynia. More in-depth studies about pharmacopuncture concentration or mechanism are needed.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2008

Purpose: During Postpartum period many women complain multiple pain, cold hypersensitivity, hot flush, sweating and so on. We call the postpartum disease as San Hu Pung. We studied characters of DITI Characters of women suffering from Postpartum disease. Methods: We studied 55 patients visiting OOhospital from February 2006 to November 2007. The subjects were categorized in two groups, symptom group(37) and no symptom group(18). We measured the temperatures of abdomen(CV17, CV12, CV4), upper and lower limb(PC8, LU4, LR3, ST32) and back(GB21, BL18, BL53). We studied the difference of DITI between two groups by Student T-test using SPSS for windows (version 12.0). Results: The general characteristics such as age, days of postpartum, primiparity, cesarean section, partum season, breast-feeding of two groups were not different statistically. Temperatures of abdomen(CV17, CV12, CV4) and back(GB21, BL18, BL53) of two groups were not different statistically. Temperatures of Lt. PC8 and both LR3 of symptom group were statistically higher than no symptom group. The difference between Lt. PC8 and LU4, both LR3 and ST32 of symptom group were statistically higher than no symptom group. Conclusion: The results suggest that women suffering from Postpartum disease shows high temperature on hand and foot. It seems that postpartum disease patients tend to have blood deficiency. DITI can be useful to diagnose San Hu Pung. The more studies to diagnose San Hu Pung would be needed.

• 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 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.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of further acupuncture research as an effective alternative and safe treatment for abdominal pain control in patients with pancreatitis. Methods and Results : This study is an open-label, assessment-blind, parallel designed pilot clinical trial. Thirty participants will be assigned to the acupuncture group(n=15) and usual care group(n=15). All patients will receive the conventional standard-of-care(SOC) therapy, but only the experimental group will receive acupuncture therapy six times a week, and the duration of acupuncture therapy will be held up to 12 weeks or until the pains are to be resolved. For the conventional SOC therapy, painkiller will be given. In treatment group, the subjects will receive the identical SOC therapy in combination with electroacupuncture therapy on twelve acupuncture points(LI4, PC6, SP6, GB39, ST36, ST37), and auricular acupuncture therapy on five auricular acupuncture points(Sympathetic, Shen Men, Abdomen, Pancreas gall, and Spleen). The primary outcome will be measured using the visual analogue scale(VAS), and the secondary outcome will be measured using the painkiller demand, quality of life index and severity of pancreatitis by abdominal computed tomography(CT). Assessments will be made at baseline and at week 1, 4, 8 and 12. Results of abdominal CT will be evaluated at baseline and at week 12. Conclusions : The result of this trial will provide a basis for the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for abdominal pain in patients with pancreatitis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2 s.70
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• pp.66-79
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• 2007

Objectives : To explore the type and frequency of short term reactions, de Qi associated with acupuncture treatment and to determine the incidence of adverse events following acupuncture in Korea. Subjects and methods : This study is a retrospective and cross-sectional survey of patient reports. 1095 subjects, 585 of out-patients of the Oriental Medicine of Stroke & Neurological Disorders Center, East-West NEO Medical Center of Kyunghee University and 510 of out-patients of the Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stoke Center), Hospital of Oriental Medicine, Kyunghee Medical Center, from June through November of 2006, who had acupuncture, gave informed consent and completed one survey form. On this form, patients were asked to report short term acupuncture reactions, de Qi, patient satisfaction measurement (using VAS), and adverse events relating to acupuncture treatment. The acupuncturists of this study are Korean Medicine Doctors (KMD) who had worked as practitioners for 3-30 years or more. Results : The average age of the 1095 subjects was 58 years old. Positive short term acupuncture reactions after treatment were reported by 878 (80.2%), negative short term acupuncture reactions by 75 (6.8%) and no reactions were reported by 142 (13.0%). The most common positive short term acupuncture reactions were feeling 'relaxed', 472 (43.1%), followed by feeling 'less pain' 90 (8.2%), 'energized' 16 ( 1.5%), 'tingling' 16 (1.5%), 'heat feeling or Cold feeling' 10 (0.9%), and others 274 (25.0%), respectively. Negative short term acupuncture reactions were feeling 'pain' 37 (3.4%), tiredness 24 (2.2%), dizziness 9 (0.8%), and others 5 (0.2%), respectively. Traditionally described needling sensations of de Qi refer to a patient's response to distention, pulling, soreness, heaviness, numbness. 39.7% of subjects reported de Qi during needling, experiencing 'distention' 333 (30.4%), 'soreness' 52 (4.7%), 'pulling' 22 (2.0%), 'heaviness' 18 (1.6%), and 'numbness' 10 (0.9%) respectively. Positive short term acupuncture reactions and de Qi rate were the highest in the less than 40 years group (83/96 86.5%, 50/96 52.1%). No acupuncture reactions were highly seen in the over 70 years old group (31/187, 16.6%). Patient satisfaction level using VAS was a comparatively high $72.9{\pm}19.9$. Adverse events were only bleeding in 92 (8.4%) of the total subjects. High sensitive acupoints were 95 points as GV26 (54 times), LI4 (54 times), ST36 (53 times), GB20 (37 times), HT8(34 times), LV3 (29 times), SI3 (29 times), and LI11 (27 times) in order. Main impressions were stroke patients 430 (16.9%), headache 185 (16.9%), hypertension 97 (8.9%), and dizziness 85 (7.8%). Conclusions : Although 8 different Korean Medicine Doctors participated in this research, we obtained similar results from each. There were no significantly different results between the two hospitals. Short term acupuncture reactions and de Qi were most related to age. Except for bleeding there were no adverse events relating to acupuncture treatment in this study. We consider acupuncture treatment as very safe depending on practitioners. Positive short term acupuncture reactions after treatment were 12 times higher than negative short term acupuncture reactions. Subjects were comparatively satisfied with acupuncture treatment.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was aimed at analyzing the serotypes of group B streptococcus (GBS) isolated from Korean infants with invasive disease and evaluating their association with disease manifestation. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from invasive GBS infections at Gachon University Gil Medical Center from January 2006 to June 2012 and at Samsung Medical Center from April 2010 to November 2012. Serotypes were determined by slide agglutination test. Results: A total of 37 cases were identified, which included 22 full-term infants and 15 preterm infants. Fifteen cases (40.5%) were early-onset, 19 (51.4%) was late-onset, and three (8.1%) was very late-onset. Early-onset diseases among preterm infants were higher than those among full-term infants (60.0% [9/15] vs. 27.3% [6/22], P=0.17). The most common manifestation was bacteremia (70.3%), followed by meningitis and septic arthritis. Among 24 isolates retrievable for serotyping, serotype III (41.7%) was most common, followed by V (16.7%), Ia, Ib, and II (12.5%, respectively), and non-typeable (4.2%). Serotype III was more common in isolates from full-term infants (10/22) than from preterm infants (0/15), whereas serotype V was more common in isolates from preterm infants (4/15) than from full-term infants (0/22) (P=0.002). No penicillin-resistant strain was detected, and resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin were both 64.9%. Conclusions: GBS is an important pathogen in both preterm and full-term infants, and serotype distribution of GBS causing invasive diseases can differ between preterm and full-term infants. It is necessary to monitor the nationwide epidemiology of GBS diseases, including in preterm infants, in order to prepare preventive measures without underestimating early-onset diseases.

• 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.18 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2011

Purpose : This study was performed for the purpose of finding causative organisms and clinical features of septic arthritis or acute osteomyelitis in children. Methods : The study involved a retrospective review of the medical records of 63 microbiologically confirmed cases of acute pyogenic arthritis and osteomyelitis. All of the cases were brought about by community-associated infections and managed at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital or Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from June 2003 to July 2009. Results : The median age of all cases was 60 months and there were 35 males and 28 females. Major involved joints included the hip joint (15 cases), knee joint (7 cases), shoulder joint (4 cases), and elbow joint (4 cases). Also, major involved bones included the femur (20 cases), tibia (13 cases), humerus (7 cases), and radius (7 cases). Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly identified causative organism, accounting for 49 cases (77.8%). Of the 49 isolates of S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) accounted for 8 cases (16.3%). Group B streptococcus spp. (GBS) and Salmonella spp. accounted for 3 cases, respectively. Nafcillin or cefazolin was often prescribed as an initial empirical antibiotic. There were 9 cases that were managed by a regimen that included vancomycin as the first choice. Fifty four cases (85.7%) recovered without any complications. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), responsible for 41 cases, caused chronic complications in 3 cases. Of 8 cases caused by MRSA, 1 case showed chronic complication. There were no fatal cases. Conclusion : S. aureus remains the most common organism causing acute pyogenic arthritis and osteomyelitis of childhood acquired in the community. The high prevalence of methicillin resistance among S. aureus should be considered carefully in the selection of initial empirical antibiotics.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.20 no.6 s.84
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• pp.553-560
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of packaging materials (general, charcoal) on the physicochemical properties of white, brown and black rices stored at 30'E . The weight losses of the rices were $2.2\~3.0\%$ during storage. The germination rates of the white rice packed with general (GW) and charcoal (CW) were both $0.0\%$, whereas those for the brown and black rices (GB and CB, and GBL and CBL) were 10.3 and $10.9\%$, and 11.8 and $12.1\%$, respectively, after 10 weeks of storage. With regard to the weight losses, there were no differences in the germination rates between the packaging materials. The hardness of the rice increased with increasing storage, but the change was smallest for the CBL (charcoal packed, black rice) and largest for the GW (general packed, white rice). The fat acidity of the rices was significantly increased with increasing storage time and those of the rices packed in charcoal materials were significantly lower than those packed in general packaging materials.