• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.197-208
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• 2021

Objectives : The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review focusing on acupuncture points information applied in experimental studies using electroacupuncture for stroke. Methods : First, we set the research question of this study to identify which acupuncture points were studied for various symptoms of post-stroke sequelae in clinical and animal experiments. For this purpose, among the records searched through EMBASE, experimental studies including acupuncture points used in electroacupuncture treatment for stroke were selected as inclusion criteria for this study. The acupoints information used in each experiment was extracted from the included studies according to the type of study design and symptoms of stroke sequelae, and quantitative analysis was performed. Results : A total of 973 studies using acupuncture treatment, of which 429 papers including electroacupuncture were analyzed. Most of the animal experiments were conducted on general conditions instead of specific symptoms of stroke, and in clinical studies, electroacupuncture studies were conducted on symptoms such as hemiplegia and spasticity, cognitive and mental problems, dysphagia, shoulder problems, and depression that occur after stroke. Acupuncture points such as GV20, ST36, LI11, and LI4 were mainly used regardless of stroke symptoms. Except for these acupuncture points, GV26, GV14, GV16, and GV24 were frequently used in animal experiments, and TE5, LI15, LI10, and LR3 were widely used in clinical studies. Conclusions : Although this study extracted and analyzed only the frequent acupuncture points in the electroacupuncture study for stroke. However, in the future, it is necessary to be able to secure the evidence for acupuncture treatment elements through comparative studies between different acupuncture points or other elements constituting electroacupuncture.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: A randomized, controlled pilot trial was conducted. Twenty-two participants were randomized into one of the two groups: an acupuncture group (n=11) and wait-list group (n=11). The treatment group received 8 sessions of electroacupuncture over 8 weeks. Twenty points (CV4, CV12, both LR14, GB26, ST25, ST34, ST40, ST36, SP4, SP6, LR3) were selected for needling. The control group did not receive acupuncture treatment during study period and followup were done in the 4th and 8th weeks after randomization in both groups. The primary outcome was body fat computed tomography and the secondary outcomes included blood test (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoproteincholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, blood sugar test, ${\gamma}$-guanosine triphosphate) and body composition test (body mass index, weight, body fat mass, body fat rate, waist hip ratio). Safety was assessed at every visit. Results: There was no significant differences in between the experimental group and control group. There were no adverse events. Conclusions: The results suggest that In patients with NAFLD, electroacupuncture treatment did not induce worsening of liver disease and liver function, but it was no improvement symptoms of fatty liver. Study of herb medicine treatments and other acupuncture therapy of NAFLD are required later.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.57-66
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• 2005

Objectives : We examined the effects of electroacupuncture on the cholecystokinin-octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. Methods : Rats were administered with $75{\mu}g/kg$ cholecystokinin-octapeptide subcutaneously three times (1, 3 and 5h after shaving) for 5days. Three days after finishing cholecystokinin-octapeptide administration, high frequency electroacupuncture (100Hz) and low frequency electroacupuncture (2Hz) were applied to acupoint equivalent to ST36 (Zusanli) for 7 days. The author determined the pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, the levels of pancreatic heat shock protein HSP60 and HSP72. The author also assay the secretion of ${\beta}-amylase$, lipase and pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum. Repeated cholecysokinin-octapeptide treatment resulted in the typical laboratory and morphological changes of experimentally induced pancreatitis. Results : Eelectroacupuncture significantly decreased the pancreatic weight/body weight ratio in cholecystokinin-octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis, increased the pancreatic levels of HSP60 and HSP72, and decreased ${\beta}-amylase$ and lipase levels in cholecystokinin-octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis. Additionally, the secretion of $Interleukin-1{\beta}$ and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ was decreased in the animals treated with electroacupuncture. Conclusion : These results suggest that electroacupuncture may have protective effects against cholecystokinin-octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1041-1054
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• 2004

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to increase pain threshold, and to enhance the NK cell activity by up-regulation of IFN-γ and endogenous β-endolphin. For the purpose of understanding the molecular mechanism of EA stimulation, we analyzed the gene expression profile of rat hypothalamus, treated on Zusanli (ST36) with EA, in comparison with control group by oligonucleotide chip microarray (Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Neurobiology U34 Array) and real-time RT-PCR. Sprague-Dawley (S-D) male rats were stimulated at the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint in restriction holder. Simultaneously the control group was given only holder stress without EA stimulation. In order to prove the appropriateness of EA treatment, we measured spleen NK cell activity with standard 51Cr release assay. NK cell activity of EA group was significantly increased comparing to control group. The microarray and PCR results show that EA treatment up-regulates expression of genes associated with 1) nerve growth such as NGF induced factor A and VGF, 2) signal transduction such as 5HT3 receptor subunit, AMPA receptor binding protein and Na-dependent neurotransmitter transporter, and 3) anti-oxidation such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase. In addition, the activity of the anti-oxidative enzyme, SOD of hypothalamus, liver and RBC was enhanced compared to that of control. The list of differentially expressed genes may implicate further insight on the mechanism of acupuncture effects.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.149-162
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on Jogsamni (ST36) in the collagen-induced arthritis rats and investigate the role played by opioid receptor subtypes $({\mu},\;{\delta},\;{\kappa})$ in the antinociceptive effect of electroacupuncture (EA) In the thermal hyper algesia test. Methods : Immunization of male Sprague-Dawley rats with bovine type H collagen emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, followed by booster injection 2 weeks later induced collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The thermal hyperalgesia was evaluated weekly with tail flick latency (TFL). In the fourth week after first immunization, EA stimulation (2 Hz, 0.07 mA, 0.3 ms) was delivered into Jogsamni (5736) for 20 minutes. Analgesic effect was evaluated by using the tail flick latency (TFL) after intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, naloxone, naltrindole and nor-binaltorphimine respectively to CIA rats. Results : The results were as follows; 1. The TFL were gradually decreased in CIA as time elapsed after e immunization of arthrogenic collagen and the maximum value was reached between the third to fifth week. 2. EA stimulation on 5736 inhibited chronic inflammatory pain induced by CIA. 3. The analgesic effect of EA was inhibited by pretreatment of ${\mu}-receptor$ antagonist (naloxone),${\delta}-receptor$ antagonist (naltrindole) and ${\kappa}-receptor$ antagonist (nor-binaltorphimine) respectively. Conclusion : Electroacupuncture has an analgesic effect on the CIA rat and has an antinociception mediated by 8, 5, H receptors.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2007

Purpose: We investigated the effects of the combined therapy in rats with rheumatoid arthritis induced by type II collagen for 28 days, which consisted of the oral administration of the AR and EA applied to zusanli acupoint(ST36). Methods: Normal group was oral administered with 0.9% NaCl $0.5\;m{\ell}/day$ to normal rats. Control group was oral administered with 0.9% NaCl $0.5\;m{\ell}/day$ to arthritic rats. Group I was oral administered with AR 500 mg/kg $0.5\;m{\ell}/day$ to arthritic rats. Group II was given 2 Hz EA of ST36 in the test group for 30 min/day to arthritic rats. Group III was oral administered with AR 500 mg/kg $0.5\;m{\ell}/day$ and 2 Hz EA of ST36 in the test group for 30 min/day to arthritic rats. We Observed effect of the histopathological changes by H&E stain of liver, kidney, knee joint and ELSIA of cytokines($TNF-{\alpha}$). Results: 1. The vacuolization of liver tissue was decreased in group I, II, III comparing with control group. 2. The glomerular sclerosis of kidney tissue was decreased in group I, II, III comparing with control group. 3. The erosion of arthritic site of knee joint tissue was decreased group I, II, III comparing with control group. In particular group III was the most effective comparing with group I, II on the histopathological view. 4. In the ELSIA test of $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentration, Control group significantly increased in the concentration more than group I, II, III. The rate of increase in concentration slowed down in group III more than group I, II(p<0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that 500 mg/kg of AR extracts and EA have clear therapeutic effect on the rheumatoid arthritis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.100-112
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• 2011

Objectives : This study investigated the effects of electroacupuncture on memory, depression, and plasma stress hormone levels in rats that were under immobilization stress. Materials and Methods : The immobilization-only group was given two hours of immobilization stress for 10 consecutive days. The immobilization and high frequency EA group was given two hours of immobilization stress simultaneously with high frequency (100Hz) electroacupuncture stimulation on the right ST-36 (Zusanli) for 10 consecutive days. We conducted the inhibitory avoidance and forced swimming tests to recognize whether immobilization stress and electroacupuncture have effects on memory and depression. We collected blood samples from the tail of each rat at 30, 60, 90, and 120-minute intervals during the immobilization stress and EA stimulation to measure plasma concentrations of ACTH, corticosterone, melatonin, and norepinephrine induced by immobilization stress and electroacupuncture. Results : There was a significant effect of high frequency on the increase in anamnesis based on the result of the inhibitory avoidance test, but there was no significant effect of decreasing depression based on the result of the forced swim test. Also, there was no significant effect on the response indicated by stress hormones. Conclusions : 1. High frequency electroacupuncture (100Hz) improved anamnesis in immobilization stress states under the inhibitory avoidance task. 2. High frequency electroacupuncture (100Hz) did not reduce depression induced by immobilization stress under the forced swimming test. 3. High frequency electroacupuncture (100Hz) did not decrease stress hormones through blood sampling.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2010

Objectives : We investigated the role of intracellular calcium chelator, bis-(2-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid(BAPTA), on the modulation of phosphorylation of the spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR) NR1 and NR2B subunits following electroacupuncture(EA). Methods : Bilateral 2 Hz EA stimulation with 1.0 mA was delivered at those acupoints corresponding to Zusanli(ST36) and Sanyinjiao(SP6) in man via needles for 30min. Results : EA analgesia was reduced by intra-peritoneal injection at a higher dose of BAPTA from termination of EA stimulation. At 60 min after EA treatment, the total number of c-fos-immunostained neurons in each regions of the dorsal horn in the $L_{4-5}$ segments was decreased by BAPTA injection, especially in nucleus proprius. The mean integrated optical density (IOD) of NR1 and NR2B subunits were increased only in superficial laminae of EA-treated rats when compared with normal rats. However, the mean IOD of pNR1 was significantly decreased by BAPTA injection in both the superficial laminae and neck region and pNR2B in the superficial laminae. Western blot analyses confirmed the decreased expression of pNR1 and pNR2B. Conclusions : We concluded that intracellular calcium may well play an important role in EA analgesia by modulating the phosphorylation state of spinal NMDAR subunits.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.9-15
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• 2006

Skeletal muscle injury occurs frequently in sports medicine and is the most general form of injury followed by physical impact. There are growth factors which conduct proliferation, differentiation, and synthesis of myogenic prodromal cells and regulate vascular generation for the continued survival of myocytes. The purpose of the present study was to confirm the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and electrical stimulation (ES) on muscle recovery processes according to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into 2 experimental groups and a controlled group. All animals had suffered from crush damage in the extensor digitorum longus for 30 seconds and were killed 1, 3, and 7 days after injury. 30 Hz and 1 mA impulsion for 15 minutes was applied to the EA experimental groups Zusanli (ST36) and Taichong (LR3) using electroacupuncture and the same stimulation was applied to the ES group using an electrical node. Hematoxyline-Eosin staining and VEGF immunohistochemistry were used to ascertain the resulting muscle recovery. There were few morphological differences between the EA and ES groups, and both groups were observed to have tendencies to decrease atrophy as time passed. In the controlled group, gradually diminishing atrophy could be observed, but their forms were mostly disheveled. There were few differences in VEGF expression between the EA and ES groups, and tendencies to have an increased quantity of VEGF with the lapse of time were observed in both groups. In the controlled group, a little VEGF expression could be observed merely 7 days after injury. In conclusion, EA and ES contributed to muscle recovery processes and could be used for the treatment of muscle injury.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.360-368
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• 2005

Background & Object: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Traditional Korean medical therapy on gastric myoelectrical activity in patients with functional dyspepsia. Methods: 29 patients(male 10, female 19) were divided into two groups; Inpatient group(N=10, male 1, female 9) and outpatient group(N=19, male 9, female 10). 10 healthy people participated in this study as normal controls. Gastric motility was recorded and analyzed by electrogastrography(EGG) during fasting and postprandial periods. Hospital treatment included electroacupuncture on ST36, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. Outpatients were treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture. Inpatients underwent hospital treatment for two weeks, and after discharge they were treated as outpatients for six weeks. In inpatient group, EGG was recorded before and after hospital treatment and it was recorded at six weeks after discharge. In outpatient group, EGG was recorded before starting treatment and it was recorded once a every six weeks for twelve weeks. Results: There was no significant difference in EGG parameters between before and after therapy in outpatient group. In inpatient group, postprandial normal slow wave increased after hospital treatment(from $33.94{\pm}14.13$ to $62.63{\pm}20.18$, p<0.05) and postprandial tachygastria decreased(from $43.53{\pm}13.99$ to $28.30{\pm}16.63$, p<0.05) and arrhythmia decreased(from $20.35{\pm}15.91$ to $5.67{\pm}6.80$, p<0.05). Conclusions: Results suggest that hospital treatment through electroacupuncture on ST36, acupuncture, and herbal medicine is useful to improve gastric myoelectrical activity in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia.