• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.33-43
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• 2021

Objectives : This study seeks to grasp the current status of Koryo medical research in North Korea, by focusing on researchers and research topics. Methods : A network analysis of co-authors and keyword which were extracted from Koryo Medicine - a North Korean traditional medicine journal, was conducted. Results : The results of author network analysis was a sparse network due to the low correlation between authors. The domain-wide network density of co-authors was 0.001, with a diameter of 14, average distance between nodes 4.029, and average binding coefficient 0.029. The results of the keyword network analysis showed the keyword "traditional medicine" had the strongest correlation weight of 228. Other keywords with high correlation weight was common acupuncture (84) and intradermal acupuncture(80). Conclusions : Although the co-authors of the Koryo Medicine did not have a high correlation with each other, they were able to identify key researchers considered important for each major sub-network. In addition, the keywords of the Koryo Medicine journals had a very high linkage to herbal medicines.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effect of high frequency electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}$ acupuncture point on the Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) induced rat arthritis pain model. Methods : Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of CFA into base of tail. Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups; Normal, Control and Jok-Samri ($ST_{36}$) and Non-Acupuncture point (NA). Normal group, non-arthritic group, was injected with normal saline，and the others groups were injected CFA. $ST_{36}$ group was treated by 120 Hz electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}$ acupuncture point, and NA group was treated by 120 Hz electroacupuncture at non-acupuncture point. Each groups were evaluated by the change of c-fos positive neurons in periaqueductal gray (PAG) and hippocampus by using an image analyzer and a microscope. Results: - In the PAG region, the number of fos-positive cells in the $ST_{36}$ group ($42.37{\pm}5.08$) were significantly (p<0.05) decreased compared with the control group ($64.56{\pm}6.35$). - In the PAG region, the number of fos-positive cells in the NA group were meaninglessly decreased compared with the control group - In the Cornu Ammonis(CA)l region of hippocampus, the number of fos-positive cells in the $ST_{36}$ group ($7.00{\pm}1.08$) and NA group ($5.56{\pm}2.01$) were significantly (p<0.05) decreased compared with the control group ($13.81{\pm}1.24$). - In the dentate gyrus region of hippocampus, the number of fos- positive cells in the $ST_{36}$ group ($10.75{\pm}0.98$) and NA group ($6.56{\pm}0.78$) were significantly (p$26.45{\pm}1.82$). Conclusions : It is expected that high frequency electroacupuncture can be used a treatment of arthritic pain.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

Objective: There are currently no disease-modifying medications or definite long-term sustainable interventions for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), indicating an unmet treatment need. Our goal was to create a long-term sustainable intervention for PD patients that can be used in Korean medicine clinics. Methods: The Meridian Activation Remedy System (MARS) was created to stimulate a patient's 12 meridians and sinew channels using a combination of acupoint stimulation and exercise. The acupoints and motions used in MARS were selected through literature studies and expert advice. The methodologies were refined using observational and case studies. With slow and fast movements, the MARS intervention was intended to activate both slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers. Intradermal acupuncture and motion that shift the center of gravity were employed to enhance the patient's balance and proprioception. In addition, the intervention included alternating movement exercises to address the complex cognitive decline commonly occurring in PD patients. Results: The following acupoints were chosen for the MARS intervention: bilateral Hegu (LI4), Houxi (SI3), Waiguan (TE5), Neiguan (PC6), Zhongchong (PC9), Yuji (LU10), Zusanli (ST36), Yanglingquan (GB34), Taichong (LR3), Kunlun (BL60), and Taixi (KI3). We also developed actions that can stimulate the body's 12 meridians. Conclusion: We developed the MARS intervention, which combines acupuncture and exercise, to address the unmet therapeutic needs of PD patients. We hope that with additional research, the MARS intervention can be set as an effective therapeutic program for PD patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.346-351
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• 2003

The current studies investigated the therapeutic effects of Ephedra sinica Stapf (ES) herb-acupuncture on the inflammatory responses of rat arthritic joint, which was induced by the intradermal injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis emulsified in squalene to the base of the tail. The measurements of body weight and articular index were exploited as the assessment methods addressing arthritic symptoms, and the expression profiles of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the rat joint were analyzed using RT-PCR. The articular indexes of arthritic rats were significantly restored after the treatment with ES herb-acupuncture. Although the clinical symptoms of arthritic rats were apparently alleviated by the ES treatments, their body weights were not recovered. It maybe due to the weight-loss and energy enhancement effects of ES extracts. The expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 genes, which were highly stimulated in the knee joints of arthritic rats, were restored to the levels of normal rats after the ES treatment. The therapeutic effect of ES herb-acupuncture was not observed in ES-treated, non-acupoint arthritic group as a sham control. The ES herb-acupuncture into an acupoint ST36 was found to be effective in alleviating the arthritic symptoms in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats as regards the body weight, joint appearance and the expression profiles of inflammatory cytokines.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effect of low frequency electroacupuncture according to acupoints combination on NOS positive neurons in the PAG and Hippocampus of Rat with adjuvant induced Rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of FCA into base of tail. Experimental group were divided into 6 group ; Normal, Control, $ST_{36}$, $SP_9$, $ST_{36}+SP_9$, and NA. Normal group was injected with normal saline and not treated electroacupuncture. Control group was injected with FCA and not treated electroacupuncture. ST36 group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}$. $SP_9$ group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at $SP_9$. $ST_{36}+SP_9$ group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}+SP_9$. NA group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at non acupoint. Each groups were evaluated by the number of NOS-positive neurons in PAG and hippocampus by using an image analyzer and a microscope. Results : 1. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the NA group were significantly decreased in the CA2-3. 2. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the ST36 group were significantly decreased in the PAG and CA2-3. 3. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the SP9 group were significantly decreased in the PAG and DG 4. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the ST36+SP9 group were significantly decreased in the PAG, CA1 and DG. Conclusions : It is expected that low frequency electroacupuncture can be used a treatment of rheumatoid arthritic pain and that treatment of electroacupuncture at combined acupoints is more efficient than treatment of low frequency electroacupuncture at one acupoint.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.67-75
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of M-test (Meridian test) as an adjunctive evaluation and treatment in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods This study was a single arm pre-post comparison study. Thirty-six eligible subjects with chronic neck pain were recruited from August to September, 2015. M-test was used for evaluating the condition of meridian, which can induce the limitation of ROM and body discomfort. Subjects were offered intradermal acupuncture treatment on one-acupoint for 48 hours. Cervical numeric rating scale (NRS), cervical range of motion (ROM), neck disability index (NDI) and surface electromyography (SEMG) were measured before and after the treatment. Total NRS and the number of movement limitation of M-test were also measured before and after the treatment. Results Among the 36 participating subjects, 4 subjects were lost to follow-up or excluded in accordance with the criteria. Significant differences on Cervical NRS and NDI were found after the treatment (p<0.001). There was a significant difference in the range of left cervical rotation (p<0.05). Root mean square (RMS) of SEMG significantly decreased on the right sternocleidomastoid muscle (p<0.05), but significantly increased on the right trapezius muscle (p<0.05). Median frequency (MdF) of SEMG significantly increased on both sternocleidomastoid muscles. There appears to be significant differences after the treatment in total NRS and the number of movement limitation of M-test (p<0.05). Conclusions These results suggest that the evaluation and treatment of M-test based on the meridian and collateral theory were effective on cervical NRS and NDI, and also improved the movability of human body.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.139-147
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in brain activities when Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) is used alone compare to NDT is combined with intradermal acupuncture (IDA) treatment, using functional infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) Methods Three children less than 7 year-old with cerebral palsy were participated. On their first visit, only NDT was used. After a week, they were treated with both NDT and IDA. During the treatment, fNIRS was used to measure any changes in their brain activities. Results In first patient with NDT, oxyhemoglobin level was increased during Standing exercise and Gait training compared to resting state. When the patient was treated with NDT and IDA, oxyhemoglobin level was decreased during Standing exercise and Gait training compared to resting state, and the result was significant (p<0.05). In second patient, oxyhemoglobin level was decreased in Gait training compared to resting state when NDT was used, but the level was increased when NDT and IDA were used in Gait training compared to resting state (p<0.05). In third patient, the difference in oxyhemoglobin levels between Gait training and resting state was significant (p<0.05). Conclusions Treatment involving both NDT and IDA has more potential to improve brain activities compared to that of NDT alone, and no adverse effect was reported. In order to confirm the finding, larger scale randomized controlled trials are needed.