• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2020

Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive degeneration of articular cartilage. Inflammation is a recognized and important factor of OA progression. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Corni Fructus water extract (CFW) on a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced rat model of OA. Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced by injection of MIA (50 µL; 80 mg/mL) into the knee joint cavity of rats. After an adaptation period for seven days, the rats were divided into 4 groups (n=8/group): normal, control, indomethacin-treated (5 mg/kg), and CFW-treated (200 mg/kg) groups. The rats were treated orally for 14 days. Pain was evaluated by determining hind paw weight distribution. For biochemical analyses, we measured the changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) in the knee joint. The presence of anti-oxidant proteins and inflammatory proteins was determined by western blotting. Results: The administration of CFW significantly improved the hind paw weight distribution. The ROS and ONOO^- levels of knee joint were significantly decreased in the CFW group. CFW inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators, such as COX-2, and inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and IL-1β, via the NF-κB signaling pathway. The expression of anti-oxidant enzymes, such as catalase and GPx-1/2 also increased significantly. Conclusions: The findings indicate that CFW has a therapeutic and protective effect on OA by suppression of inflammation. Therefore, CFW could represent a potential and effective candidate for OA treatment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2004

Objectives : The usage of acupuncture has gained popularity as an alternative method of treatment for certain chronic pain conditions. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in various diseases has not been fully established and the underlying mechanism is not clearly understood. In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to foot samli$(ST_{36})$ on the carrageenan-induced knee arthritic pain was examined. Methods : A common source of persistent pain in humans is the knee arthritis. Knee arthritis was induced by injection of 2 % carrageenan $50\;{\mu}l$ into the knee joint cavity. When rats developed pain behaviors, EA was applied for 30 min. under enflurane anesthesia with repeated train stimuli at the intensity of 10X of muscle twitch threshold. The weight bearing force of the hind limb was measured for an indicator of pain level after each manipulation. Results : The average weight borne by the hind limb during normal gait was 55% of total body weight, which was reduced to less than 10% after knee arthritis. EA improved the weight bearing of the arthritic hind limb significantly for the duration of 4 hr. EA applied to $ST_{36}$ point produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the arthritic foot lasting for at least 4 h. However, $GB_{31}$ point did not produce any significant increase of weight bearing force. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effect on the knee arthritis model could not be mimicked by EA applied to a nearby point, $GB_{31}$. The relations between EA-induced analgesia and endogenous nitric oxide(NO) and inducible NO synthase(iNOS)/neuronal NOS was also examined. Results were turned out that both NO production and nNOS/iNOS protein expression which is increased by arthritis were suppressed by EA stimulation applied to $ST_{36}$ point. Conclusions : The data suggest 1) that EA produces a potent analgesic effect on the rat model of chronic knee arthritis pain in a point specific manner and 2) that EA-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of nNOS/iNOS protein expression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.129-136
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate whether an intra-articular injection of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor agonist, resiniferatoxin (RTX) would alleviate behavioral signs of arthritic pain in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA). We also sought to determine the effect of RTX treatment on calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression in the spinal cord. Knee joint inflammation was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA, $8mg/50{\mu}l$) and weight bearing percentage on right and left hindpaws during walking, paw withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimulation, and paw withdrawal latency to heat were measured to evaluate pain behavior. Intra-articular administration of RTX (0.03, 0.003 and 0.0003%) at 2 weeks after the induction of knee joint inflammation significantly improved reduction of weight bearing on the ipsilateral hindlimb and increased paw withdrawal sensitivity to mechanical and heat stimuli. The reduction of pain behavior persisted for 3~10 days according to each behavioral test. The MIA-induced increase in CGRP immunoreactivity in the spinal cord was decreased by RTX treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The present study demonstrated that a single intra-articular administration of RTX reduced pain behaviors for a relatively long time in an experimental model of OA and could normalize OA-associated changes in peptide expression in the spinal cord.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.238-243
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• 2013

This paper analyzes a virtual work of the knee and hip joints of bipedal walking robots. For the purpose, we consider a model of bipedal leg mechanism with a compliant foot and a typical walking pattern. We also check the torque characteristics at the joint space propagated from the space of the foot contacting a flat and stiff surface, and present the works accumulated at the joint space. As a result, it is shown that this analysis is useful for evaluating the fatigue of the leg mechanism by the physical walking contact between the foot and the surface, and it is applicable for improving the compliant characteristics at the foot space by employing a proper footgear.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2013

This paper presents a model of bipedal leg mechanism with a compliant foot, and the contact repulsion of the foot for a typical walking pattern and its influence on the knee and hip joints of the leg will be analyzed. This analysis is useful for us to figure out the physical impact of the foot when a walking robot takes a step. Also it can be applied to determine the joint specification of the leg mechanism. As a result, it is shown that the compliance characteristics of a robotic foot can contribute to alleviate the joint torques of the leg affected by the contact repulsion of the foot.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2020

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), manual acupuncture (MA), and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) are used to treat a variety of pain conditions. These non-pharmacological treatments are often thought to work through similar mechanisms, and thus should have similar effects for different types of pain. However, it is unclear if each of these treatments work equally well on each type of pain condition. The purpose of this study was to compared the effects of TENS, MA, and SCS on neuropathic, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory pain models. Methods: TENS 60 Hz, 200 ㎲, 90% motor threshold (MT), SCS was applied at 60 Hz, an intensity of 90% MT, and a 0.25 ms pulse width. MA was performed by inserting a stainless-steel needle to a depth of about 4-5 mm at the Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints on a spared nerve injury (SNI), knee joint inflammation (3% carrageenan), and non-inflammatory muscle pain (intramuscular pH 4.0 injections) in rats. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds of the paw, muscle, and/or joint were assessed before and after induction of the pain model, and daily before and after treatment. Results: The reduced withdrawal thresholds were significantly reversed by application of either TENS or SCS (P < 0.05). MA, on the other hand, increased the withdrawal threshold in animals with SNI and joint inflammation, but not chronic muscle pain. Conclusions: TENS and SCS produce similar effects in neuropathic, inflammatory and non-inflammatory muscle pain models while MA is only effective in inflammatory and neuropathic pain models.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1000-1007
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• 2011

This study was conducted to determine the analgesic effect of onion and acanthopanax senticosus mixture extract using the rheumatoid arthritis rat model. Rheumatoid arthritis model was made by the intradermal injection of type II collagen emulsified. Rats were divided into four groups: (1) Sham group(n=5), (2) Control group(administered DW 3 $m{\ell}$/1 day after RA induced, n=7), (3) Experimental group I(administered Onion extractor 600 mg/3 $m{\ell}$/1 day after RA induced, n=7). (4) Experimental group III(administered Onion and Acanthopanax senticosus mixture extractor 600 mg/3 $m{\ell}$/1 day after RA induced, n=7). After that, we examined the arthritic index, paw edema, pain threshold at 1st, 14th, 28th days. And also we examined histopathologic study(safranin-O green), immunohistochamical stain(COX-2) of knee joint at 28th days. Arthritic index, paw edema and pain threshold test were decrease in experimental group I, II than control group. Especially group II was most significantly inhibit effect than the other groups at 28th days. On the histopathologic view, all experimental groups were relieved and reproduced the erosion of arthritic site compared with control group. All experimental groups were COX-2 positive cells in the immunohistological stain of the knee joint were significantly decreased compared with control group. Especially group II was most significantly decreased than the other groups at 28th days. Onion and Acanthopanax senticosus mixture extractor can be used for curing rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-inflammatory effects may be somewhat better in combination of Onion and Acanthopanax senticosus.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2023

Background: This study aimed to examine the effect of Scutellaria baicalensis extract (SBE) on ameliorating pain response and inflammation in an animal model. Methods: The effects of SBE on joint inflammation-induced rats and pain writhing response were measured. In rats with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced knee osteoarthritis (OA), the weight-bearing distribution of the hind legs was measured, the actual joint condition was visually confirmed, and serum cytokines were extracted from whole blood and measured. In addition, the acetic acid-induced pain was measured by the number of abdominal wall contractions and writhing responses. Results: 1. The weight-bearing distribution of the hind limbs of the SBE group was remarkably improved compared with that of the control group 7 days after MIA treatment, and the SBE 300 group was improved similarly to that of the indomethacin group. 2. Cartilage erosion was significantly recovered in the SBE and indomethacin groups, and the degree of healing of cartilage erosion by SBE was similar to that by indomethacin. 3. The serum levels of cytokines interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 were significantly decreased in the SBE group compared with that in the control group, and the SBE 300 group had reduced levels of cytokines similar to the indomethacin group. 4. As regards acetic acid-induced writhing response, the number of writhes was significantly reduced in the SBE and ibuprofen groups, and the SBE 600 group had fewer writhes than the ibuprofen group. Conclusion: SBE significantly improves knee OA and pain and is expected to show similar therapeutic effects to indomethacin and ibuprofen.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2012

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related joint disease characterized by degradation of articular cartilage and its association with chronic pain. Purified Bee venom (PBV) has been traditionally used to the treatment for inflammatory diseases. The purpose of the current study is to examine whether PBV regulates the pro-inflammation against a mouse model of knee OA induced by papain. We studied the effect of PBV on papain-induced OA in the knee joints of mice. Mice were split into following groups: normal control, papain induced OA, OA treated with PBV, OA treated with meloxicam as positive control. Proteoglycan deposition was analyzed by safranin O-fast green staining and H&E staining. Papain injection significantly degraded the proteoglycan in OA mice at 42 days. Cartilage proteoglycan density was significantly higher in PBV treated OA group than those of the positive control groups. These results demonstrate that PBV efficiently suppresses pathological processes in an OA model. Thus, PBV could be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of OA.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.216-222
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• 2002

The ergonomic human model can be considered as a tool for the evaluation of ergonomic factors in vehicle design process. The proper anthropometric data on driver's postures are needed in order to apply a human model to vehicle design. Although studies on driver's posture have been carried out for the last few decades, there are still some problems for the posture data to be applied directly to the human model due to the lack of fitness because such studies were not carried out under the conditions for the human model application. In the traditional researches, the joint angles were evaluated by the categorized data, which are not appropriate for the human model application because it is so extensive that it can not explain the posture evaluation data in detail. And the human models require whole-body posture evaluation data rather than joint evaluation data. In this study a postural evaluation function was developed not by category data but by the concept of the loss function in quality engineering. The loss was defined as the discomfort in driver's posture and measured by the magnitude estimation technique in the experiment using a seating buck. Four loss functions for the each joint - knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow were developed and a whole-body postural evaluation function was constructed by the regression analysis using these loss functions as independent factors. The developed postural evaluation function shows a good prediction power for the driver's posture discomfort in validation test. It is expected that the driver's postural evaluation function based on the loss function can be used in the human model application to the vehicle design process.