• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.300-305
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• 2011

The present study was investigated the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture at ST36 on learning and memory deficits after transient cerebral ischemia in a gerbil model. The animals were randomly divided into three groups (n=7 in each group): the sham operation group (SHAM), ischemia-induced and ST36 acupuncture group (ISC + ST36), and the ischemia-induced and Tail-acupuncture group (ISC + TAIL). For the acupuncture stimulation, stainless steel needles, 0.3 mm in diameter, were inserted bilaterally into the ST36 locus or the tail and stimulated for 1 min/day for 14 days. Using the Morris water maze test, the animals were tested on spatial learning and memory. In addition, the effects of acupuncture on memory storage and the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, in the hippocampal CA1 area, were investigated by ChAT immunohistochemistry. Transient cerebral ischemia produced impaired performance on the MWM test (DAY 5: p<0.01 and retention test: p<0.05) and severely decreased ChAT immunoreactivity in the CA1 hippocampal area compared to the SHAM group (p<0.05). However, improved learning and memory were observed (DAY 5: p<0.05 and retention test: p<0.01) as well as a significantly reduced loss of ChAT immunoactivity in the hippocampal CA1 region (p<0.001) after acupuncture stimulation at ST36 were observed. These results show that acupuncture at ST36 ameliorated the learning and memory deficits at least in part through the cholinergic system. The findings of this study provide potential data that acupuncture is useful for the treatment of some of the behavioral impairs of transient cerebral ischemia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.95-103
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Paljeong-san pharmac-opuncture(PJS) on the rat model of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). Methods : Rats were divided into 5 groups, with 6 rats in each group. The 5 groups included sham-operated group(sham group), BPH model group(BPH group), finasteride-treated group (fina group), PJS-treated groups(PJS 10 and PJS 100 group). Testosterone was injected subcutaneously to the castrated rats except sham group for BPH model. During 4-week experimental period, finasteride(5 mg/kg) was administrated orally once daily in fina group, PJS in PJS 10(10 mg/kg) and PJS 100(100 mg/kg) group and normal saline in sham and BPH group were injected subcutaneously once daily at Jungwan($CV_{12}$). We checked prostate weights, serum concentration of dihydrotestosterone(DHT), morphologic changes of the prostate, and the amount of expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and $5{\alpha}$-reductase gene to evaluate the effect of PJS after 4-week experimental period. Results : 1. PJS and finasteride treatment reduced prostate weights comparing with BPH group, but PJS-treated groups showed no significant changes, unlikely fina group. 2. PJS-treated groups showed significant degreases in concentration of DHT. 3. PJS-treated groups showed significant degreases concentration-dependently in the amount of expression of the PCNA and $5{\alpha}$-reductase gene. 4. PJS treatment showed shrinking of thickness in the prostatic epithelial tissue. Conclusions : PJS has the effects that improve the symptoms of BPH through inhibiting proliferation of the prostatic tissues.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.120-128
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• 2018

Background: Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a common condition that includes shoulder pain and limited movement. Despite more than 100 years of AC treatment, the most efficacious treatment remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) using acupuncture for AC. Methods: Thirty participants with AC were randomly assigned to acupuncture (A) or sham acupuncture (SA) groups. The participants received 15 acupuncture sessions over 6 weeks, and follow-up occurred for an additional 4 weeks thereafter. The primary clinical outcome was the numeric rating scale (NRS) for shoulder pain 6 weeks from the baseline. Secondary outcomes included range of motion (ROM) in the shoulder, the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), the EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ-5D), the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and the patient global impression of change (PGIC). Results: Thirty participants were enrolled out of 37 screened individuals. Recruitment was conducted between August 2014 until May 2015. A total of 28 participants (93%) completed the 6-week intervention, and 26 participants (87%) completed the study. NRS, ROM, SPADI, EQ-5D, PSQI, and PGIC scores improved in both the experimental group and the sham group after 6 weeks, but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. Adverse events were reported by 12 participants, although these events were not associated with acupuncture. Conclusion: A future RCT for AC may be feasible with some modifications to the recruitment plan and the secondary outcome measurement methods.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.13-23
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of Sa-am acupuncture (Damjeonggyeok) on autonomic nervous system in night nurses by heart rate variability. Methods : Five night nurses were divided into two groups. We checked their HRV once after sleeping for night and 5 times after working for night, 4 times after operation. We operate Sa-am acupuncture (Damjeonggyeok) and sham acupuncture twice by turns for group A and in reverse order for group B. We checked responses of HRV change after operations. Statistical analysis was performed by using the SPSS Win. Ver. 13.0 for analysis about correlation between data, and Baysian analysis using WinBUGS(Ver. 1.4) for comparison between Sa-am acupuncture (Damjeonggyeok) and sham acupuncture. Results : The median overall decrease for difference in responses of low-frequency power in normalized units (LF (NU)) was -16.56 (-28.88, -6.446), the median overall increase for difference in responses to high-frequency power in normalized units (HF (NU)) was 16.25 (8.104, 28.6) and for the median overall decrease for difference in responses to the ratio of low- to high-frequency power (LF/HF) was -1.846 (-3.922, -0.069), 95% credibility intervals being shown in brackets. VAS of stress was correlated with LF (NU) and HF (NU), LF/HF (p<0.0l). Conclusion : Sa-am acupuncture (Damjeonggyeok) might have sympatholytic and parasympathomimetic effects.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.33-45
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• 2007

Background : Hot flushes are general postmenopausal symptoms which about 75% of climacteric women undergo. They affect hotness, perspirations, systemic weakness, panic disorders, insomnia. Acupuncture is effective in alleviating hot flushes in practice. Assessment effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in hot flushes would be needed through multi-center trial. Objectives : Purpose of this study is to develope the protocol of effects of acupuncture on hot flushes, a postmenopausal symptom in climacteric women. Methods & Results : It will be a multi-centered, randomized, sham controlled, comparative trial. It will be performed by Good Clinical Practice after approval of Institutional Review Board. Selection criteria will be set according those of FDA above moderate degree. There will be a notice on concomitant medication, other herbs, dietary supplements. Superficial needling on sham points will be used for control group. Treatment period will be 8 weeks with 12 weeks' follow up. Some questionnaire scale will be used as the primary and secondary outcome. Conclusions : The clinical trials based on this protocol will be performed.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.81-89
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• 2024

Purpose : This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture for each condition using information from laser acupuncture trials registered on clinicaltrials.gov from January 2013 to June 2023. Methods : We quantitatively and qualitatively analysed the results of 16 clinical trials of laser acupuncture whose research results were confirmed. A risk of bias assessment was also carried out to assess the quality of each clinical trial. Results : A meta-analysis including three clinical trials was conducted to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of laser acupuncture and sham laser acupuncture in reducing pain and found that the laser acupuncture group had a statistically significant reduction in pain compared with the sham laser acupuncture group. In addition, 11 of the 13 trials not included in the meta-analysis showed a positive effect of laser acupuncture. Conclusion : Although laser acupuncture has a long history of clinical use and a lot of research, there is still some scepticism due to the lack of a clear mechanism of action and inconsistent reports of clinical effectiveness. In addition, there is a significant lack of systematic reviews of clinical evidence for major disease specific, and ongoing research is needed to establish an objective evidence base for the clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.43-58
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• 2007

Objectives : The elicit of DeQi, a composite of sensation including numbness and fullness that develops at the site of acupuncture stimulation, is considered to be clinically essential to establish treatment efficacy. However, there was little studies investigating the relationship between the subjective feeling of acupuncture sensation and acupuncture analgesia, The current study was therefore performed to determine the correlation between the acupuncture sensation scale (ASS) and the degree of acupuncture analgesia. Methods : Ninety-two female subjects were stimulated at LI4 acupoint on non-dominant hand with real (RA) or sham acupuncture (SA). Finger withdrawal latency (FWL) of each group was also measured to evaluate analgesic effect of acupuncture on the noxious heat stimuli on the dominant hand. All subjects were asked to complete seven point-Likert scale ASS developed by Vincent et al. Results : The increase rate of FWL of the RA group was significantly higher than that of the SA group(36.03 ${\pm}$ 4.45% vs 24.50 ${\pm}$ 3.73%). RA stimulation produced significantly higher rating of all the ASS except for dull sensation, compared to SA stimulation. Significant correlations between analgesic effect of RA, but not of SA, and the degree of the ASS, including burning sensation(r=0.349), Intense sensation(r=0.299), pulsating sensation (r=0.335), and stinging sensation (r=0.306) were found. Conclusions : The results of our study indicate that the DeQi sensation are associated with acupuncture analgesia. Our findings suggest that the evocation of DeQi might be useful clinical indicator of acupuncture treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.139-149
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to compare the effect of needle retention(NR) and electro-acupuncture of low(EA(L)) and high(EA(H)) frequencies at $SP_6$ and Sham point in rats. Methods : Intestinal hypermotility was induced by feeding carbachol and experimental groups divided mainly into 7 groups which were normal, holder, control, acupuncture in normal state of rats, pre-treatment of acupuncture(NR, EA) in hypermotility, post-treatment of acupuncture(NR, EA) in hypermotility. We fed charcoal to them after the treatment and measured the travel rate of charcoal in the gastrointestinal track so that which treatment affected more in intestinal hypermotility. Results : As the following study, each acupuncture ways of EA(L) had significant effect of decreasing travel rate on intestinal hypermotility than EA(H) and NR. The comparison between pre-treatment and post-treatment, pre-treatment had slight more effect than post-treatment but not significantly. There was more affected at $SP_6$ than Sham point on this study. Conclusions : There were 21 groups to find out which treatment was best to slow down the intestinal motility and $SP_6$-EA(L)-C had significant effect compared with control group at the figure than any other groups. That meant $SP_6$ had effect on gastric disorder such as intestinal hypermotility and its' effect had more prevention than cure. Further study was needed to have more precise effect of EA and $SP_6$.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.698-705
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effect of PC6 and SP4 on autonomic nerve system in healthy adults. Methods : 22 healthy adults were recruited and randomized into the study group or control group. The study group (real acupuncture group) was acupuncturcd on PC6 and SP4. The control group (sham acupuncture group) was acupunctured superficially near PC6 and SP4 but not the exact points. The subjects rested for 10 minutes, and were then acupunctured. After 15 minutes, acupuncture needles were removed and the subjects rested for another 15 minutes. Heart rate variability(HRV) was continuously measured during the study period by FM-150 (digital Holter ECG recorder). Results : In the real acupuncture group. LF(low frequency) significantly decreased during the acupuncture period(p<0.05). LF/HF ratio also had a significant decrease during acupuncture period and the decrease was maintained during the post-treatment period as compared with the pre-treatment period. In the sham acupuncture group. LF significantly increased during the acupuncture period but LF/HF ratio had no significant changes. Conclusions : The results suggest that acupuncture on PC6 and SP4 can increase parasympathetic activity and balance autonomic nervous system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.93-112
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• 2017

Objectives : To evaluate and summarize the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment (AT) in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Methods : Fifteen databases (Pubmed, Cochrane, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL, CNKI, Wanfang, and eight Korean databases) were searched up to September 2016. Only trials in which acupuncture was the sole treatment were included. Fatigue was used as the primary outcome measure, while the quality of life, pain, mood disorders, and adverse events were used as secondary outcome measures. We adopted three classifications: AT vs Sham AT, AT vs Wait-list, AT vs Western medication. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality. Results : A total of 11 randomized controlled trials involving 869 participants were identified. In comparison with Sham AT, AT significantly alleviated fatigue and pain, but no conclusions about the quality of life and mood disorders could be drawn. In the Wait-list group and Western medication groups, patients with CFS might feel less fatigued following acupuncture treatment, but the evidence was insufficient due to lack of study. Nine of 11 RCTs (81.8%) reported adverse events and there were two cases of mild subcutaneous hemorrhage, but no serious adverse cases. Conclusion : This review found evidence that patients with CFS may generally benefit from alleviation of symptoms by acupuncture treatment, and there is no evidence of worsening symptoms or causing of serious adverse events. A positive effect on fatigue and pain was observed, but no conclusion for improving quality of life and mood disorders.