• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.357-374
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• 1997

In order to investigate the effects of Sakunjatang(四君子湯) and Samultang(四物湯) aqua-acupuncture on immune response, Sprague-Dawley male rats were used and randomly divided into four group. Normal group was normal control, Control group was injected i.v. with 2mg/kg MTX on 9th and 11th day after sensitization with SRBC on 5th day, Sakunjatang aqua-acupunctured group(Sample A) was aqua-acupunctured daily for 18 days into the locus corresponding Bisu(B20) locus of the human body to Rat and MTX was administered 9th and 11th experimental day, Samultang aqua-acupunctured group(Sample B) was aqua-acupunctured daily for 18 days into the locus coresponding Bisu(B20) locus of the human body to Rat and MTX was administered 9th and 11th experimental day. In the 9th day and the 11th day after aqua-acupuncture, MTX was injected to reduce immune function in the tail of rat. leukocyte count, lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte count of spleen, lymphocyte count of bonemarrow, contact hypersensitivity to DNFB, morphologic change of thymus cell, and electropherogram of serum protein. The result were summarized as follows: 1. Before MTX injection, leukocyte count had no significant difference in Sakunjatang aqua-acupunctured group and Samultang aqua-acupunctured group compared to control group and after MTX injection, leukocyte count had no significant difference Sakunjatang aqua-acupunctured group and Samultang aqua-acupunctured group. 2. Before MTX injection, lymphocyte ratio was decreased significantly Sakunjatang aqua-acupunctured group and Samultang aqua-acupunctured group compared to control group. 3. After MTX injection, lymphocyte ratio was increased significantly Sakunjatang aqua-acupunctured group, Samultang aqua-acupunctured group had no significant difference compared to control group. 4. The lymphocyte count of spleen was increased significantly Sakunjatang aqua-acupunctured group and Samultang aqua-acupunctured group compared to control group. 5. The lymphocyte count of bonemarrow was increased significantly Sakunjatang aqua-acupunctured group, Samultang aqua-acupunctured group had no significant difference compared to control group. 6. Contact hypersensitivity was no significant difference in Sakunjatang aqua-acupunctured group and Samultang aqua-acupunctured group compared to control group. 7. In the morphologic change of thymus cell, control group compared to normal group had a indistinct boundary between cortex and medulla, and lymphocyte cell density of thymus was low, Sakunjatang aqua-acupuryctured group had a distinct boundary between cortex and medulla, and lymphocyte cell density of thymus was high. 8. In the SDS-PAGE electrophorogram of serum protein, Sakunjatang aqua-acupunctured group and Samultang aqua-acupunctured group had a wide band of nearby 50,000 and 25,000 Dalton which meant IgG generate more activity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.157-169
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• 2001

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects on WBC counts and each differential of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes in whole blood sample of each experimental Aqua-acupuncture treated mice groups PCortex Ulmi Pumilae(CU), Ramulus Cinnamomum(RC), Radix Achyranthes(RA), Apitoxin(BV), Calculus Bovis Fel Ursi Moschus compound(BUM). Materials & Method : All the BALB/c mice used in this study were bred and maintained in our pathogen-free mouse facility and were 6 weeks of age at the start of the experiment. The experimental model of arthritis was induced by injecting 300${\mu}g$/kg LPS to all mice knee joint. The each of Aqua-acupuncture(Cortex Ulmi Pumilae, Ramulus Cinnamomum, Radix Achyranthes, Apitoxin, Calculus Bovis Fel Ursi Moschus compound) was injected into GB34(陽陵泉) of mice groups every other day for 6 times. And the WBC counts and each differential of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes were measured at the 3rd, 7th and 14th day after LPS injection. Results : 1. The WBC counts were significantly decreased compared with the control(CON) group in every Aqua-acupuncture groups at all days. And at the 14th day, BV & BUM groups were more significantly decreased than RA group. 2. The Neutrophil's ratio was significantty increased compared with the CON group in CU & RC groups at the 3rd day and RC group was more significant than CU group. But at the 7th and 14th day, every Aqua-acupuncture groups were significantly increased compared with the CON group and at the 7th day, RC group was more significant than RA, BV & BUM groups and at the 14th day, RC, BV & BUM groups were more significant than RA group. 3. The Lymphocyte's ratio was significantly decreased compared with the CON group in RC group at the 3rd day. At the 7th day, CU, RC & BV groups were significantly decreased compared with the CON group. At the 14th day, every Aqua-acupuncture groups were significantly decreased compared with the CON group and RC group was more significant than RA group, 4. The Monocyte's ratio was significantly decreased compared with the CON group in every Aqua-acupuncture groups at the 7th day. At the 14th day, BV & BUM groups were significantly decreased compared with the CON group. Conclusion : According to the above results, it was concluded that CU & RC groups were more effective at the early period of this experiment, and at the latter period, BV & BUM groups were more effective than others. RA group was less effctive than others.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

Purpose : This research was conducted to investigate the effect of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture on paw edema, pain index, anti-inflammatory factor, AST, ALT and complete blood cell count of a rat model with Complete Freund's Adjuvant-induced arthritis. Methods : Five experimental groups were formed with each consisting of six rats: normal group, control group, sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture group, lower level laser acupuncture group, and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture, lower level laser acupuncture group. The experimental model of arthritis was induced by two injections of Freund's adjuvant into the left knee joint of Sprague Dawley(SD) rats. The second injection of Freund's adjuvant was given ten days after the first one. Ten days later, sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture were administered separately or together by assigned groups at $GB_{34}$ and $GB_{39}$ of rats twice a week for a total of six times. Thereafter, edema rate, pain index, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6, aspartate aminortansferase, alanine aminotransferase and complete blood cell count were measured. Results : We noticed synergic effects of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture according to the results of the paw edema and Von Frey pain index. The sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture(BVA) and sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture+ low level laser acupuncture(BVA+LLA) groups experienced a more significant effect when compared with the control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that Sweet Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture and low level laser acupuncture at GB34 and GB39 have a significant anti-inflammatory effect on Freund's adjuvant arthritis in rats.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2014

Objectives: This experiment was conducted to examine the toxicity of Water soluble Carthmi-Flos herbal acupuncture (WCF) by administering a single intramuscular dose of WCF in 6-week-old, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats and to find the lethality dose for WCF. Methods: The experiment was conducted at Biotoxtech according to Good Laboratory Practices under a request by the Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute. This experiment was performed based on the testing standards of "Toxicity Test Standards for Drugs" by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Subjects were divided into 4 groups: 1 control group in which normal saline was administered and 3 test groups in which 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mL of WCF was administered; a single intramuscular dose was injected into 5 males and 5 females in each group. General symptoms and body weights were observed/measured for 14 days after injection. At the end of the observation period, hematological and clinical chemistry tests were performed, followed by necropsy and histopathological examinations of the injected sections. Results: No mortalities were observed in any group. Also, symptoms, body weight, hematology, clinical chemistry and necropsy were not affected. However, histopathological examination of the injected part in one female in the 1.0-mL group showed infiltration of mononuclear cells and a multi-nucleated giant cell around eosinophilic material. Conclusion: Administration of single intramuscular doses of WCF in 3 groups of rats showed that the approximate lethal dose of WCF for all rats was in excess of 1.0 mL, as no mortalities were observed for injections up to and including 1.0 mL.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.25-36
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Zeae Stigma herbal-acupuncture (ZS-HA) at KI10 (Umgok) on nephritis induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats. Methods: Rats were assigned to five groups, normal, LPS, NP, saline and ZS-HA. Rats in NP, saline, and ZS-HA groups were treated with needle prick, saline injection, and ZS-HA respectively at KI10, three times a week. All animals except the normal group were injected intra-peritoneally with LPS to induce nephritis. RBC and WBC, neutrophils in blood, TNF-alpha, CINC-1, creatinine in serum, urinal volume, total protein and creatinine in urine, and renal MPO were analyzed. Results: Needle prick at KI10 significantly reduced WBC in blood and CINC-1 in serum of LPS-stimulated rats. Saline injection at KI10 significantly reduced TNF-${\alpha}$ in serum and total protein in urine of LPS-stimulated rats. ZS-HA at KI10 significantly increased RBC in blood, and significantly reduced neutrophils in blood, TNF-${\alpha}$ in serum, and total protein in urine of LPS-stimulated rats. Conclusions: According to these results, it is postulated that ZS-HA at KI10 has anti-inflammatory and renal-protective effects on LPS-induced nephritis in rats, and both acupoint KI10 and herb Zeae Stigma made contributions to this effect. Further studies on the interaction between acupoint KI10 and herb Zeae Stigma may be needed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.715-723
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• 1999

Bee venom (BV) has been traditionally applied to relieve pain and to cure inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and neuritis. While several investigators have evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of BV treatment, the anti-nociceptive effect of BV treatment on inflammatory pain is not reported. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the analgesic effect of BV treatment using Freund's adjuvant induced chronic arthritis model. Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis has been used as an experimental animal model for RA in humans to assess the efficacy of the anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs. In this study, subcutaneous BV treatment (1mg/kg/day) produced significantly reductions of symptoms related to arthritic pain (i.e. mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia). The anti-nociceptive effect of BV was observed from at least 12 days after BV treatment. Furthermore, BV treatment significantly suppressed adjuvant induced Fos expression in lumbar spinal cord. We also found that local injection of BV into near the inflammatory site (especially Zusanli-acupoint) showed more potent analgesic effect on arthritic pain rather than distant injection of BV from inflammatory site (arbitrary side of back). The present study demonstrates that BV treatment has anti-nociceptive effect on arthritis induced inflammatory pain. The analgesic effect of BV on RA is probably mediated by the effect of BV itself or possible other mechanism such as counter-irritation. Furthermore, it is possible that BV acupuncture is one of the promising candidates for long-term therapy of RA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.211-227
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• 1998

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia(BPH) is the most common benign tumor seen in the western male, and it is found in 50% of men over 50 years of age. It is characterized by the formation of large discrete lesions in the periurethral region. As they enlarge, these nodules tend to compress the urethra and cause partial or almost complete obstruction of .urine flow. The etiology of BPH is uncertain, but the increasing incidence with advancing age suggests the possibility of an imbalance between male and female sex hormones. In the past, most patients have had multiple indications to support the decision to initiate therapy. But both the urologic surgeon and the patient must be clearly aware of the results that can be expected and the risks involved in achieving them. The aims of this study are to investigate and summarize the current trends of treatment for BPH so as to suggest the effective and available way to treat the disease. In Oriental medicine, the BPH is recognized as uroschesis and ischuria, and the etiology is mainly in stagnated blood and insufficiency of the kidneys. The point of treatment of BPH is recovery of urination, and the treatment can be approached in two ways through herb drugs and acupuncture. Some of the herb drugs have substances which reduce BPB. Acupuncture therapy stimulates the pelvic plexus and is reported to be effective for voiding. Suppository, massotherapy, rectal injection, locus injection and attachment of herb drugs to the navel or the acupoint are announced as the effective treatments. So, this study of the approach and application of these treatments on BPH would be necessary.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.107-121
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injections specified in the clinical guideline for COVID-19 by conducting a meta-analysis of viral pneumonia data. Methods: TCM injections data on viral pneumonia were collected until July 31, 2021. CNKI, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane electronic database were used to collect the clinical data. "COVID-19," "Viral pneumonia," "Tanreqing," "Xiyanping," "Reduning," "Xingnaojing," "Xuebijing," "Shenmai," "Shengmai," and "Shenfu" were used as keywords. All data collected were mainly about TCM injections and viral pneumonia. Furthermore, studies that included results such as the total effective rate, cough disappearance time, antipyretic time, lung rhomboid disappearance time, and adverse drug reaction were collected for the meta-analysis to identify the efficacy of TCM injections. However, data unrelated to TCM injections specified in the clinical guidelines for COVID-19 or viral pneumonia were excluded. The quality of included RCTs was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, and Review Manager 5.3 software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 18 studies with 1540 patients were included in this study. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the total effective rate OR = 4.61 (95% CI 2.92, 7.25, p = 1.00/ I² = 0%); the cough disappearance time: SMD -1.23 (-1.37, -1.09, p < 0.00001/ I² = 94%); the antipyretic time: SMD -1.26 (-1.40, -1.11, p < 0.00001/ I²=94%); lung rhomboid disappearance time: SMD -1.17 (-1.33, -1.02, p < 0.00001/ I² = 89%); and adverse drug reaction was OR 0.36 (95% CI 0.20, 0.64, p = 0.21/ I² = 30%). From the results, the treatment group (TCM injection) showed better efficacy than the control group (Western medication). Conclusion: Xiyanping, Reduning, and Tanreqing injections may yield benefits as COVID-19 treatments. However, clinical trials on TCM injections for the treatment of COVID-19 are still lacking. More high-quality clinical trials are still required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.131-144
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• 2005

Objective : The aim of this study is to observe the effect of Herbal-acupuncture(HA) with Luffae Fructus Retinervus Herbal-Acupuncture Solution(LFR-HAS) at ST36(Joksamni) on Collagen Ⅱ -induced arthritis(CIA) in mice. Methods : DBA1/J mice were immunized with bovine type Ⅱ collagen(CⅡ) on days 0 and 21 to induce an arthritis. The mice were divided into 5 groups. They were Normal group(wild type), Control group(CIA), Saline group(CIA +saline injection), Needle Prick group(CIA +single Prick with an injection needle) and LFR-HA group(CIA +LFR-HA treatment). The saline injection, needle prick and LFR-HA were made on the right ST36(Joksamni) of mice for 5 weeks, 3 times a week beginning 4 weeks after the booster immunization. Results : 1. The highest synovial rate of lung fibroblasts was measured in the 1% LFR-HAS. 2. TNF-${\alpha}$ expression of survival cells from CIA mouse joint was significantly reduced in the 1% LFR-HAS. 3. The incidence of arthritis and the spleen weight of CIA mouse were significantly reduced by the Luffae Fructus Retinervus Herbal-Acupuncture (LFR-HA) at ST36. 4. The concentrations of IL-6, INF-${\alpha}$, INF-${\alpha}$, IgG, IgM, and anti-collagen Ⅱ in the CIA mouse serum were significantly reduced by the LFR-HA at ST36. 5. The histological examination showed that, in the LFR-HA group, the cartilage destruction and the synoviocyte proliferation in the CIA mouse joint were not significant compared to the control group, and the collagen fiber was similarly expressed as the normal group. 6. In the LFR-HA group, the ratio of CD3e+ to CD19+ cell, and the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ cell in the lymph node were similarly maintained as those of the normal group. 7. CD69+/CD3e+ and CD11a+/CD19+ cells in the CIA mouse lymph node were significantly reduced by the LFR-HA at ST36. 8. CD11b+/Gr-1+ cells in the CIA mouse joint were significantly reduced by the LFR-HA at ST36. Conclusions : These results indicate that Luffae Fructus Retinervus Herbal-Acupuncture (LFR-HA) at ST36 may regulate the immune system and have a therapeutic effect on Collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) in mice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.85-94
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effect of pharmacopuncture of Mori Cortex on galactosamine-induced liver injury in rats. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups; Normal, liver injury not induced and not treated group. Control, the liver injury-induced and not treated group. Saline group, the liver injury-induced and saline injection at $BL_{18}$. HA-1 and HA-2 group, the liver injury-induced and pharmacopuncture of Mori Cortex applied to $BL_{18}$, each $1.3{\mu}g/g$, $2.6{\mu}g/g$. Then we observed the changes of ${\gamma}$-GTP, GOT, GPT, LDH, total cholesterol, triglyceride, total bilirubin. Results : Pharmacopuncture of Mori Cortex treatment significantly inhibited the activities of ${\gamma}$-GTP, GOT, total cholesterol, triglyceride and total bilirubin in HA-1 group. ${\gamma}$-GTP, GTP, LDH, ${\gamma}$-GTP levels were significantly inhibited in HA-2 group. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that the reduce of hepatic enzyme activation and lipid accumulation by pharmacopuncture of Mori Cortex may be by an antioxidant properties of Mori Cortex.