• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.451-461
• /
• 2021

In Jeju Island, there are two different types of Opuntia cactus in cladodae, fruit, flower, flowering period and spine. There is no comparative study of these two taxa yet, so it is often seen as the same species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the phylogenetic relationship between the Taxa of the Opuntia monacantha Haw. and Opuntia stricta Haw. in Jeju Island. The results indicate that the two taxa were completely different from each other on the analysis of nrITS, matK and atpB-rbcL gene as well as the morphological comparison. Also, O. monacantha among the two taxa is included in the Elatae series, so South America is the origin, and O. stricta is included in the Scheerianae series, which confirms that North America is the origin. The name of the O. monacantha in Jeju Island was named 'Jeju-Baick-nyun-cho' considering geographical location conditions and symbolic characteristics.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of acupuncture and its relevant modality on post-stroke muscle spasticity Methods : We included 7 randomized controlled trials(RCTs) and 1 crossover study on acupuncture on the post-stroke muscle spasticity. Articles searches were performed in various databases in October 2009. Eight studies from 38 articles met the inclusion criteria and were used to assess the quality of clinical trials by means of Jadad scale, STRICTA, CONSORT statement and cochrane-handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. Results : Electrical stimulation such as electroacupuncture and TENS on acupoints was used in five studies. Repeatition of electroacupuncture showed significant decrease of the post-stroke muscle spasticity and persistence of the effect. Only three studies were assessed high quality as the methodological assessment tool(Jadad scale) and none of the studies matched STRICTA recommendations. Conclusions : This systematic review shows that there is beneficial effects of electroacupuncture on the post-stroke muscle spasticity. Further study of large population with high methodological quality will be needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.224-232
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of the case reports in the Journal of Acupuncture Research (JAR). All case reports were retrieved from November 2017 to June 2020. There were 19 case reports included in this assessment based on the case report (CARE) guidelines and case report and standards for reporting interventions in clinical trials of acupuncture (STRICTA) guidelines. The overall quality of reporting was relatively high (83.08% on Case Report guidelines and 77.78% on Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture guidelines), but several crucial items remained substantially underreported, such as identifying as a case report (keywords), patient information and perspective, clinical findings, diagnostic assessment, and intervention information. In 18 out of 19 included case reports of acupuncture-related interventions, several items remained considerably underreported such as acupuncture regimen variation, depth of needle insertion, response sought, and experience of acupuncturists. In the classification by disease, condition, or syndrome, 13 out of 19 included case reports were for musculoskeletal disorders (68.4%), which is the main clinical medical field of Korean medicine services. The results of this study may help develop more appropriate reporting guidelines for case reports published in JAR.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.187-191
• /
• 2007

In this study, antioxidant activities of acetone/dichloromethane and methanol extracts of Arctic seaweeds were investigated. The antioxidant properties of both extracts of arctic seaweed were evaluated using two different peroxynitrite tests, including scavenging power on authentic peroxynitrite and inhibitory activities on peroxynitrite generation from 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) producing superoxide anion and nitric oxide simultaneously in vitro. At concentration of $10\;{\mu}g/ml$, the acetone/dichloromethane and methanol extracts of Odonthalia dentata exhibited 54.6 and 64.2% inhibition against peroxynitrite generation from SIN-1 while they exhibited 24.3 and 23.0% scavenging activities on authentic peroxynitrite, respectively. On the other hand, the acetone/dichloromethane extract of Polysiphonia stricta exhibited 61.8% inhibition only against the induced peroxynitrite from SIN-1. Furthermore, the crude extracts of Odonthalia dentata and Polysiphonia stricta were fractionated into n-hexane, 85% aq. MeOH, n-BuOH, and $H_2O$ fractions, successively, and only 85% aq. MeOH fraction exhibited the best inhibition.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.330-336
• /
• 2020

Ex-situ conservation of the ornamental and medicinal orchid, Coelogyne stricta, was performed by mass propagation using seed culture. Propagation stages were optimized using full- and half-strength solidified MS medium with different phytohormones. Maximum seed germination (88 ± 0.5% over 6 weeks of culture) was achieved on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 15% coconut water. Maximum shoot numbers were found on full-strength MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L BAP, 2 mg/L Kinetin, and 10% coconut water, while the longest root was developed on full-strength MS medium with 1.5 mg/L IBA. A 2:1:1 combination of coco-peat, pine bark, and sphagnum moss was found to be a suitable potting mixture resulting in 80% seedling survivability. The cytotoxic activity of extracts of both wild plants and in vitro-developed protocorms was determined using an MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay on a cervical cancer cell line. The wild plant extract inhibited the growth of 41.99% of cells, showing that this extract has moderate cytotoxic activity toward cervical cancer cells.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.151-170
• /
• 2007

Backgraounds : Recent studies provide the evidences that the efficacy of acupuncture may be no better than placebo or inconclusive. These results are very different from those of the actual clinical situations in many acupuncture medical institutions. Objectives : The present study was designed to evaluate the influencing factors which affect the efficacy of acupuncture scale(FEAS) as the methodological assessment tool of acupuncture for examining acupuncture interventions and to demonstrate the importance of it in randomized controlled trials of acupuncture. Data sources : Electronic data were retrieved from NDSL, Pubmed, sciencedirect, LWW, OVID, Black-Well Synergy, Wiley Interscience, EBSCO HOST, springer, PML, and Kluwer. No electronic data were collected from MEDLIS and MEDLAS. Study selection : The inclusion criteria were five systematic reviews included in Alberta study and all randomized controlled trials obtained from their references. Study analysis : The acupuncture rationale, methods of stimulation, treatment regimen, and the practitioner's background were rated by FEAS, and the scores were compared with those by other methodological assessment tools. Results : The number of positive conclusions of high-rank RCTs by FEAS was the same as or higher than that of high-rank RCTs by other methodological assessment tools. Conclusions : We have analysed 5 systematic reviews and their objectives 58 RCTs using FEAS. Practitioner's background has been described slightly in some reviews and studies. It may directly influence the effectiveness of acupuncture negatively in the systematic reviews.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.61-78
• /
• 2023

Objectives This systematic review aimed to analyze the effectiveness, safety and the reporting quality of scalp acupuncture (SA) treatment for musculoskeletal disease (MSD). Methods Eleven databases were systematically searched up to July 12th 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of SA treatment for MSD were selected manually by the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias of RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane's Risk of Bias (RoB) 1.0 and the reporting quality of studies was evaluated using Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) 2010 statement and Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) 2010 checklist. Results Ten clinical studies were met the inclusion criteria. Most of studies reported SA treatment significantly alleviated pain and functional disability of MSD patients and no serious adverse effects were reported. In RoB assessment, blinding of participants and personnel was found to have the highest RoB and allocation concealment was found to have the most unclear RoB. In CONSORT 2010 statement evaluation, all studies reported 15.3 items (41.4%) on average. In STRICTA 2010 checklist evaluation, all studies reported 11.2 items (65.9%) on average. Conclusions The systematic review found that SA treatment may alleviate pain and functional disability of MSD patients and have little severe adverse effect. The reporting quality of included studies was mainly low, therefore, further studies with strict adherence to the CONSORT and STRICTA checklist should be encouraged.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.131-144
• /
• 2020

Objectives : The aim of this study is to analyze the details of acupuncture treatment methods and the reporting quality of acupuncture on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Methods : Search was conducted in Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for acupuncture studies on CTS. The reporting quality of acupuncture treatment was assessed using the following guidelines: Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) for analyzing the method of acupuncture treatment, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) for analyzing study design and study process, and Risk of Bias (ROB) for analyzing bias. The number of reported items was calculated and evaluated as a proportion. The reported proportion of each study was classified into three grades: Grade A (% score ≥75), Grade B (50≤ % score <75), and Grade C (% score <50). Results : A total of 9 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were included in this study. All trials reported 12 items (66.67%) on average in STRICTA guidelines. Five studies were conducted with manual acupuncture and 3 studies were conducted with electroacupuncture. PC7 (Daereung) was most frequently used to treat CTS. In STRICTA guideline evaluation, 3 studies were classified as Grade A, 5 studies were classified as Grade B, and 1 study was classified as Grade C. In the CONSORT statement assessment, all trials reported an average of 20.56 items. Of the 9 RCTs, 6 studies were classified as Grade B and 3 studies were classified as Grade C. In ROB assessment, most studies showed a low (63.49%) or unclear (26.98%) risk of bias. The selective reporting bias and the incomplete outcome data bias were found to have the lowest risk of bias, and the allocation concealment of selection bias was found to have the most unclear risk of bias. Conclusions : Recent acupuncture studies on CTS showed moderate reporting quality. However, more detailed reports on acupuncture are still needed to establish more solid evidence of acupuncture treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.49-63
• /
• 2021

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the trend in treating fracture with acupuncture and to evaluate the quality of case reports. Methods All case reports of fractures treated with acupuncture were extracted from four Korean web databases. We classified these studies by five fracture sites and investigated frequently used meridian and acupoint, outcome measurements, treatment period. And we assessed the quality of the case reports by the STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) guidelines. Results A total of 33 case reports were included. The outcome measurements were divided into six categories, and the outcome measurements used in more than three studies showed improvement in patient symptoms. The mainly used meridians for each fracture site were as follows: chest and abdomen (GB, LR, CV), back (BL, GB), upper limb (LI, TE), lower Limb (GB, ST, BL, SP). The most commonly used acupoints for each fracture site were as follows: chest and abdomen (Ashi points, GB24, GB25, GB26, LR13, LR14, CV16, CV17, CV18, CV19), back (BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL40, BL51, BL52, BL60, GB34), upper limb (LI4, LI10, LI11, TE3), lower limb (GB34, GB40). According to the STRICTA guidelines, more than 54.54% of the reports were found to be 'not reported' or 'not sufficient' in the following categories: 'response sought', 'description of participating acupuncturist', and 'number of needle insertions per subject per session'. Conclusions The meridians and acupuncture points frequently used for acupuncture treatment of fractures were near the fracture site. Future clinical studies involving acupuncture must be reported in accordance with the STRICTA guidelines to improve transparency and uniformity.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.14 no.6 s.67
• /
• pp.951-962
• /
• 2004

Hot water extracts of 141 indigenous plants were screened for antibacterial activity against 7 Gram (+) and 12 Gram (-) bacteria by agar diffusion method. Of the 141 plants tested, 55 showed antibacterial activity against one or more species of Gram (+) bacteria and especially extracts of Oenothera stricta Ledebour (Onagraceae), Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae), Alnus firma (Betulaceae), Geranium thunbergii (Geraniaceae), Lagerstroemia indica (Lythraceae) showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity on over 6 strains. Of the 141 plants tested, 45 showed antibacterial activity against one or more species of Gram (-) bacteria and especially extracts of Oenothera stricta Ledebour (Onagraceae), Punica granatum (Lythraceae), Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae), Schizandra chinensis Baillon (Magnoliaceae), Alnus firma (Betulaceae), Alnus hirsuta (Betulaceae), Magnolia kobus (Magnoliaceae) showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity on over 8 strains. The most active antibacterial plants were Oenothera stricta Ledebour (Onagraceae), Punica granatum (Lythraceae), Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae), Schizandra chinensis Baillon (Magnoliaceae) which are edible as permitted by Korea Food & Drug Adminstration. With in-depth research, the hot water extracts of these plants can be applied as food preservatives and alternatives of antimicrobials for livestock feeds.