• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2005

The purpose of study is that we will observe the change of c-fos and CGRP with the immunohistochemistry method and then we will study the effect of microcurrent stimulation following the frequency after inducing pain to rats with capsaicin. The experimental groups were divided by microcurrent application and pain induce. Normal control groups is used in experiment I, the group which we induce pain is used in experiment II, the application group which we induce pain and then the high frequency microcurrent stimulation is used in experiment III, the application group which we induce pain and then the low frequency microcurrent stimulation is used in experiment IV. c-fos was strongly expressed after pain induced 2 hours and positive neurons were decreased from 2 hours. At 7 days, positive neuron recovers to normal range, But c-fos positive neuron of microcurrent stimulation group were decreased from 2 hours. CGRP was strongly expressed after pain induced 24 hours, and positive neurons were decreased from 7 days. These results suggests that microcurrent stimulation therapy effect to control pain according to expression of c-fos and CGRP examined by immunohistochemistry. Also high frequency microcurrent stimulation is more effective than low frequency microcurrent stimulation for controling the pain.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.286-292
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• 2011

This study investigated the degree of fracture healing using cathode stimulation of microcurrent, cathode and anode stimulation of High Voltage Pulsed Galvanic Current (HVPGC). Measures were performed by X-ray test and Hematoxylin-Eosin stain and Masson's trichrome stain and osteocalcin-positive immunoreactivity. In the measure of X-ray, microcurrent stimulation group revealed more rapid recovery than the groups of HVPGC's cathode and anode stimulation in bone union degrees. Microcurrent group showed significant difference statistically (p<0.05). However, the groups of HVPGC's cathode and anode stimulation didn't show significant difference statistically(p>0.05). In the histologic examination with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson's trichrome, microcurrent stimulation group was observed more proliferation of irregular woven bones than the groups of HVPGC's cathode and anode stimulation. Osteocalcin-positive immunoreactivity was observed more osteoblast, osteocyte, osteoclast, bone matrix than the groups of HVPGC's cathode and anode stimulation. Microcurrent stimulation can be considered an effective way during healing of fresh fracture and it can show more effective method than HVPGC's cathode and anode stimulation in the fracture healing.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of microcurrent stimulation as a non-invasive therapeutic approach for managing pain and improving the quality of life in women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea. Design: A case study. Methods: This study was conducted, involving a cohort of 6 women diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea, aged between 20 to 30 years. Participants were received microcurrent stimulation using low-intensity microcurrents for 30 minutes every day for 4 weeks. The intensity of microcurrent stimulation was 25 μA and the frequency was 8 Hz. The intervention was administered between the menstruations, with pain intensity and quality of life being assessed at baseline, and then at the end of menstrual cycle. Pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and menstrual symptom questionnaire (MSQ), while the quality of life was assessed through the stress response inventory (SRI), state trait anxiety inventory (STAI), center for epidemiologic studies depression (CES-D), and menstrual distress questionnaire (MEDI-Q). Results: After the intervention, participants demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity, as evidenced by improved VAS scores (p<0.05). However, the changes in MSQ scores did not reach statistical significance. Regarding quality of life measures, no statistically significant differences were found in the SRI, STAI, CES-D, and MEDI-Q scores after the intervention (p>0.05). Conclusions: This study suggest that microcurrent stimulation holds promise as a potential treatment option for alleviating pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the intensity of microcurrent stimulation (with currents of 50 ${\mu}A$, 100 ${\mu}A$ and 300 ${\mu}A$ using a pulse frequency of 5 pps) on wound healing in rats. Methods: Sixty male Korean rats were randomly divided into four groups of 15 rats that were subjected to four different treatment protocols (control group, no treatment; experimental groups, treated with currents of 50 ${\mu}A$, 100 ${\mu}A$ or 300 ${\mu}A$). An experimental 20 mm linear wound was made in each animal and all animals in the experimental groups received microcurrent stimulation once a day for 20 minutes until the day of sacrifice on day 1, day 3 and day 6. An optical microscope was used to determine any histological changes. Results: The experimental results were as follows. 1. In an examination with the naked eye, all groups showed similar changes until the first day. However, from the third day, a little intercellular fluid soaked through wound region in the control group rats. In the experimental group animals, little intercellular fluid soaked through wound region, and swelling and redness did not appear, from the third day. 2. In an examination with histological evaluation, more significant changes were observed in all of the experimental group rats than the control group animals. Especially, a stimulation intensity of 50 ${\mu}A$ caused a more significant effect than the use of the other intensities by day 6 of wound healing. In addition, rapid recovery was observed. Conclusion: It was determined that microcurrent stimulation had a positive effect on wound healing. A stimulation intensity of 50 ${\mu}A$ was more effective than the other intensities (100 ${\mu}A$ and 300 ${\mu}A$) utilized for wound healing. Furthermore, low-intensity microcurrent stimulation was more effective for the purpose of wound healing.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2009

Purpose: Electrical stimulation is one of several treatments recommended for RA patients. Electrical stimulation of RA patients, reduces pain, or facilitates joint motion prior to exercises. However, there is still limited evidence on the efficacy of electrical stimulation and thus any conclusions drawn about this method remain controversial. Recently, Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (MENS) has received significant attention as a potential method of electrical stimulation. In this study, we investigated the effect of microcurrent treatment in rheumatoid arthritis rat. Methods: Subjects were allocated either to the control group or experimental group, which was subject to microcurrent stimulation. Interleukin-1 expression in the metatarsophlangeal joint and the oedema index in the ankle were used for classification and subsequent evaluation of pathology. Subjects were assessed at 1, 7 and 14 days after inducing rheumatoid arthritis through adjuvant injection. Thirty-six subjects, 18 in each group, were used in this study. Statistical analysis was performed by calculating the differences between the two groups and between each interval assessment. Categorical variables were compared between the two groups with the paired-T test. The one-way ANOVA test was performed to assess changes in ordinal variables. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. The biological marker of pro-inflammatory cytokine and oedema index were decreased in response to this treatment. Conclusion: These data show that treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with a microcurrent stimulation device reduced the oedema index and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of microcurrent stimulation intensity($50{\mu}A,\;100{\mu}A,\;300{\mu}A$ - 5 pps pulse frequency was same) on wound healing in rat. Sixty male Korean rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 15 for 4 different treatment protocols(none-control group, $50{\mu}A,\;100{\mu}A,\;300{\mu}A$ experimental groups). Experimental 20 mm linear wound were made and all animals in the experimental groups were received microcurrent stimulation once a day for 20 minutes until sacrifice days(1st day, 3rd day, 6th day). A vernier caliper was used to measure a wound healing length and an optical microscope was used to determine any histological changes. The repeated measures two-way ANOVA was used for statistical differences in wound healing length. Experimental results were as follows: 1. In the examination with the naked eye, all groups showed similar changes until 1st day. But from 3rd day, a little intercellular fluid soaked through wound region in control group. In experimental groups, little intercellular fluid soaked through wound region, and swelling and redness did not appear. 2. Wound length of experimental $50{\mu}A$ group was significantly decreased than control group(p<0.001). And in the aspect of application period, wound length was significantly decreased in 3th, 6th day than 1st day and 6th day than 3th day (p<0.001). In conclusion, it has been found that the microcurrent stimulation had a positive effect on wound healing. And $50{\mu}A$ stimulation intensity was more effective than other intensities($100{\mu}A,\;300{\mu}A$) in wound healing. Also, low-intensity microcurrent stimulation was more effective on the purpose of wound healing.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.1104-1115
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• 2023

The present study aims to verify the usefulness of microcurrent stimulation as an effective intervention for managing body shape. Thirty female college students with a percentage body fat of 30% or more participated as subjects and belonged to the one of three groups; control group, combined exercise group, microcurrent stimulation group. Based on the results of analyzing the measurement data from pre- and post-intervention for four weeks for each group, the following conclusions were obtained. There was no statistically significant difference in all measured variables in the control group. However, waist circumference and TC were significantly reduced in the combined exercise group, and also weight, percentage body fat, waist circumference, and apolipoprotein were significantly reduced in microcurrent stimulation group. Considering the above conclusions, it can be suggested that microcurrent stimulation could be an effective intervention to improve body composition and blood lipid profile to have a healthy body.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.1124-1129
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• 2009

This study aims to examine the effects of non-invasive constant microcurrent stimulation on expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein(BMP) 4 after tibia fracture in rabbits. Twenty four rabbits with tibia fracture were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. Each group was divided into four subgroups, based on the duration of the experiment (3, 7, 14, 28 days). The experimental groups received a constant microcurrent stimulation of $20{\sim}25{\mu}A$ intensity with surface Ag-AgCl electrode (diameter 1cm, Biopac, U.S.A.) for 24 hours a day. Cathode of the microcurrent stimulator located on the tibia directly, anode of it did on the gastrocnemius muscle. Rabbits were sacrificed on each of the postoperative days 3, 7, 14, 28. To investigate how non- invasive constant microcurrent stimulation affects bone healing, immunohistochemical analysis of BMP-4 was performed at each point. After evaluation, the test results are as follows: Comparisons of immunohistochemical observation of BMP-4 in 7 days after tibial fracture show that there was shown to be a moderate positive reaction (++) on concentric circles of Harversian system andt he interstitial lamella in the control group, while there was a very strong positive reaction (++++) on concentric circles of Harversian system and interstitial lamellain the experimental group. These results suggest that applying non-invasive constant microcurrent stimulation on fractured bone is helpful to bone healing.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2011

Purpose : This study investigated the effects of osteoarthritis therapy using images and histological diagnosis after microcurrents were applied to osteoarthritic rats. Methods : Osteoarthritis was induced with a mixture of 2% carrageenan and 2% kaolin. The mixture (0.1 $m{\ell}$) was injected into the knee joints of rats. Osteoarthritis with articulation received microcurrent stimulation for four weeks (15 min/day, 5 days/week): treated with pulsation frequency of 5 pps and a stimulation intensity of 25 ${\mu}A$. Results : Osteoarthritis of the control group constantly changed. The group with a stimulation intensity of 25 ${\mu}A$ applied to the surface of the articular cartilage experienced near normal recovery according to image diagnosis. The result of histological and immunohistochemistry inspection confirms that microcurrent stimulation had a positive effect on the treatment of osteoarthritis. Conclusion : The differences among images and histological diagnoses show that steoarthritis will experience constant progression from stimulation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2021

Treatment techniques that affect homeostasis by non-invasive regulation in peripheral organs will advance disease research. Here, we demonstrate a non-invasive method of conditioning within an organ using a low-frequency stimulator superposition of alternating microcurrent wave in stages. It is first applied to the inflammatory response in H3N2-infected sinusitis mice. To check the progress of the treatment, mice were sacrificed every week for 3 weeks, nasal tissue was removed, and the inflammatory response was investigated through H & E staining. The low-frequency stimulation treatment group was found to alleviate the proliferation of epithelial cells and invasion of inflammatory cells compared to the control group as the passage of treatment time. The reduction of inflammatory cytokines in the nasal lavage fluid was observed in H3N2-infected sinusitis mice treated with of low-frequency stimulation using superposition of alternating microcurrent wave compared to H3N2-infected sinusitis mice after 3 weeks. These data demonstrate that low-frequency stimulation device in the form of using alternating current wave superposition on within organs provides a new method to regulate specific physiological functions. Therefore, it is necessary to prove the inhibitory effect of low-frequency stimulation using alternating current wave superposition on inflammatory diseases by various methods through further studies and clinical studies.