• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2010

Objectives : To introduce and compare various headache measurement tools, in order to provide fundamental information for future clinical trials and development of oriental medicine measurement tools. Methods : Eight headache assessment scales, Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire(MQoLQ), Migraine-Specific Quality of Life(MSQOL), Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire(MSQ), The Headache Impact Questionnaire(HImQ), Headcahe Needs Assessment Survey(HANA), Henry Ford Headache disability Inventory(HDI), Migraine Disablity Assessment Scale(MIDAS) and Headache Impact Test(HIT-6), were searched through Pubmed. General character, the process of development, verification of reliability, internal consistency, responsiveness to patient's change and validity were reviewed. Results : In assessing the quality of life of migraine patients, MQoLQ can be used to measure the change within 24 hours, MSQ and MSQOL can be used to measure the change during a relatively longer period of time. The frequency and bothersomeness of headache can be easily measured by HANA. HImQ can be used to measure the intensity of headache and the influence on normal daily activities. HDI can measure the emotional difficulties of headache patients. HIT-6 and MIDAS makes measurements possible in a short period of time, and the reliability and validity have been verified numerously. HIT-6 and MIDAS are the most frequently used measurement tools because they are simple and easy for both the assessor and the patient to understand and use. Conclusions : In this study, various headache assessment tools have been reviewed. The assessed tools were widely used after being verified for their reliability and validity. We hope this study provides fundamental information in establishing future clinical trial and clinical practice guidelines. We also hope this study to contribute to the development of an oriental medicine assessment tool for headache.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2001

Objective : There are many reports that acupuncture has thermoregulatory effects on human and animals. To investigate the effect and mechanism of antipyretic action of acupuncture, we observed the body temperature and cytokine expressions in the hypothalamus of rats. Methods : Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, i.p., 2.5mg/kg) was injected to conscious rats (Sprague-Dawley, male, n=4l) to cause hyperthermia and simple needling (stainless steel, 0.25 mm o.d., 5 mm insertion for 10 sec with no manipulation) was performed bilaterally with the measurement of rectal temperature. Next, we sacrificed rats to remove brain and determined the level of mRNA for interleukin-6 (IL-6), $interleukin-1{\beta}{\;}(IL-1{\beta})$, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and $interferon-{\gamma}{\;}(IFN-{\gamma})$ in the hypothalamus by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Resul1s : Needling on forepaw (acupoint HT8) and needling on hindpaw (acupoint BL66 and acupoint LR2) significantly inhibited LPS-induced fever of rats (P<0.01, 10 min after treatment respectively), but same treatment on proximal tail (non-acupoint) did not cause any change on fever. The levels of IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA in the hypothalamus was significantly enhanced by LPS-injection, while the level of IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA was markedly reduced after treatment on BL66 (P<0.01). Treatment on forepaw reduced it slightly, but not significantly. Equivalent stimulation on proximal tail did not cause any changes. Conclusions : Our results indicate that acupuncture stimulation on various body parts has differential thermoregulatory effects on LPS-induced fever of rats with site-specificity. And, we suggest that its antipyretic action might be accompanied with the suppression of hypothalamic production of pro-inflammatory cytokine of immune system, IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.469-473
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the effects of urinary acupoint (BL-23, BL-28) by acupuncture (AP) and electroacupuncture (EA) on urinary bladder in dogs. Four healthy male dogs aged within the range of 6~8 months were used in this experiment. For Electrodes implantation on the bladder, dogs were to undergo surgical operation. The purpose of investigating the effect on urinary bladder was to evaluate electromyogram (EMG) changes according to AP or EA at Shen Shu (BL-23), Pang Guang Shu (BL-28) and non-acupoint. AP and EA (2~4 V, 10 Hz) were applied for 20 min to each point. EMG was evaluated when acupuncture began stimulation and as soon as the stimulation by electroacupuncture was gone. By the experiment of investigating the effect of urinary time it was estimated to measure time up to urination from stimulation on effective acupoint, after saline was filled with 70% of whole volumes on urinary bladder. The wave of EMG on resting stage showed simple and regular, whereas that of EMG on urination showed irregularly strong peaks before urination. Acupuncture of BL-28 had an influence on changes of EMG which had irregular peaks on urination. But the changes of EMG after acupuncture of BL-28 and control were regular like resting stage. The changes of EMG after EA at BL-23 and BL-28 showed irregularly a variety of wave forms. The interval through urination from stimulation at BL-28 and control become short as measuring time by EA (p<0.01). According to the results, AP at BL-28 was effective to urinary bladder. EA at BL-23 and BL-28 was effective to urinary bladder. Especially, the interval on stimulating at BL-28 by EA was the shortest in measuring time to urination from stimulation.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.56-73
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• 2022

Objectives: This study was aimed to review the effect of acupuncture for insomnia in climacteric syndrome. Methods: Researchers searched data through 5 online databases up to December 2021. The data was limited to randomized controlled trial studies on patients diagnosed with insomnia in climacteric syndrome. Results: 8 Randomized controlled trials were included in this study. 6 of studies were published in Chinese, in China. 2 were published in English. Intervention of treatment group were composed of simple acupuncture. Intervention of control group were made up with Estazolam, Alprazolam, Lorazepam and sham-acupuncture. Outcome measurements were Total effective rate, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Kupperman index, Menopause Quality of Life scales (Men-QoL), the level of hormones (E2, FSH, LH) etc. In all outcome measurements, treatment group were more effective than control group and it was statistically significant. Conclusions: Acupunture therapy is effective for treating insomnia in climacteric syndrome. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is most frequently used for sleep assessment indicator. 神門 (HT7) is the most frequently used acupoint for treatment group. However because insomnia in climacteric syndrome is easy to recur, additional long-term research is needed.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.1 s.12
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• pp.5-14
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• 2004

Acupuncture has fairly good weight-reducing effect in treating simple obesity due to the neuroendocrine regulation. In this study, the antiobesity effects of herbal acupuncture(HA) with Sang-hwang(phellinus linteus) at Fuai(SP16) were investigated in the rat fed on high-fat(HF) diet. Sang-hwang mushroom has been proven to have anti-carcinogenic effects and Sang-hwang extracts are highly effective in treatment and preventive treatment of AIDS, diabetes and high blood-pressure. To determine whether the Sang-hwang herbal acupuncture may have the anti-obesity effect, male Sprague-Dawley(4-wk-old) rats were fed a HF diet for 5 wk, which produced significant weight gain compared to rats were fed a normal diet, and then herbal acupuncture were treated for 3 wk in HF diet group. The body weight, food consumption, food effeciency ratio(FER), body fat mass, plasma nitric oxide(NO) were investigated in rats fed on normal diet, HF diet, and HF diet with HA(HF-diet-HA) groups. NO has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of food intake. In addition, the expression of appetite peptides such as orexigenic peptide neuropeptide Y(NPY) and the anorectic peptide cholecystokinin(CCK) were observed in the hypothalamus. HF-HA group reduced body weight gain, FER, body fat contents and NO concentration compared to HF diet group. The expression of NPY was reduced in arcuate nucleus(ARC), and CCK was increased in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN) after treatment of HA. In conclusion, Sang-hwang HA reduced adipocity, plasma NO and hypothalamic NPY, but increased CCK expression in the HF dietinduced obesity rat, therefore HA may have anti-obesity action through regulating body weight and appetite peptide of the central nervous system.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.134-149
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• 2008

Purpose: Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecologic condition among reproductive-age women. It consisted with menstrual clamps and other symptoms such as nausea. vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Pain control for this disease mainly through NASIDs. but recently CAM therapies, acupuncture and others for painful menstruation are widely used in western countries. But RCT articles about dysmenorrhea in Korea, are not enough to lead such global research trends. The purpose of this study is to review treatment method and other research tendency about dysmenorrhea in Korean Medicine(KM) related dominant journals. Methods: Searching was done through web site and directly searched dysmenorrhea related articles in journals of Korean medicine Gynecology, published during 1996-2007. Results: Twenty five articles were searched in KM related journals, then two of them were simple case report and ten were paper of clinical trials. But there no RCT or control group-designed study. All of them present positive effect on dysmenorrhea but drop out rates were relatively high. Conclusion: KM therapies including acupuncture and herbal medicine have some beneficial effect to resolve menstrual cramps, but KM therapy related Korean articles don't have strong objective power as a evidence in the viewpoint of EBM. So continuous clinical trials such as RCT and multi center trials are needed.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.159-181
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to introduce and examine the possibilities of infrared (IR) imaging, biophoton detection and gas discharge visualization(GDV) as diagnostic tools in Korean Medicine. Methods : To review the basic mechanism and measurement methods of three modalities, concepts in physics were introduced. Physical backgrounds of IR, biophoton and GDV were briefly explained based on recent research papers. Simple electronics was employed for relevant detectors. In order to find the relation between Korean Medicine and these methods, papers on their applications were reviewed. Opinions from the experts on each modality were obtained from their papers and private communications. Results and Conclusions : IR imaging has been used as an auxiliary diagnostic tool but there are some rooms for the improvement for clinical applications. Experimental confirmation of the meridian activation by a moxa cigar is necessary for its verification. Biophoton is not correlated with human skin temperature but it has a circadian rhythm. Biophoton and GDV have a negligible relation if any. Therefore there are no correlations among three modalities in terms of basic mechanisms. But their clinical relations are yet to be scrutinized. Biophoton and GDV need more rigorous clinical tests before they can be used as diagnostic tools.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.37-45
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• 2007

Objectives : Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) balance is known to be intricately integrated with nervous system, cervical spine, and meridian system balance. This retrospective study with one-group pretest-posttest design reviewed cervical spine imaging data to provide evidence of spinal alignment improving effect of TMJ balance treatment. Methods : Cervical spine imaging data including computed tomography and simple x-ray of 25 cases with painful condition were reviewed to explore any change in cervical alignment on wearing the intraoral device for TMJ balance treatment of functional cerebrospinal therapy. Results : Cervical spine alignment significantly improved on wearing the intraoral device. Conclusions : TMJ balance treatment improves cervical spinal alignment, which may be a firm basis to proceed with further research of TMJ balance therapy as a way of balancing the whole-body meridian system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.106-115
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the clinical results of the spodylolisthesis patients treated with oriental medical methods. Methods : We diagnosed spondylolisthesis by L-spine simple x-ray. 28 patients with spondylolisthesis were hospitalized at WonKwang University KwangJu Oriental Medical Hospital from April 1997 to January 2000 and treated by acupuncture, moxibustion, bed rest, herb-medicine and physical therapy. Results : 1. Distribution showed female predominence(82.1%) in general. 2. In the duration of symptoms, the largest group was the group of "acutest" (32.1%). 3. In the distribution of causes, the largest group was "overwork" (35.7%). 4. Isthmic type is the most common(75%) in etiology. 5. Isthmic type involved the 5th lumbar vertebra in 57.1% and degenerative type involved the 4th lumbar vertebra in 57.1%. 6. Most of cases were grade I(96.4%) in degree of slipping. 7. The common symptoms were radiating pain(92.9%) and low back pain(78.6%). 8. Therapeutic efforts above "good" by Kim's criteria was 20 cases(71.4%) Conclusions : The result of treatment by oriental medical methods is satisfactory for the treatment of spondylolisthsis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.49-58
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to provide data to guide dementia health-care policy in Korea and to establish the position of Korean medical specialists in long-term care hospitals by analyzing the data of dementia inpatients. We analyzed the actual condition of dementia patients in care hospital and the effect of Western-Korean cooperative medicine on the progress of dementia. Methods : From January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, inpatients who were diagnosed with dementia at Mungyeong municipal long-term care hospital and admitted for more than 3 months were enrolled. Their medical records and simple tests were analyzed retrospectively. Results : We examined the detailed diagnosis, including both main and sub diagnosis, and Alzheimer disease dementia, at 97%, was the most common. At the time of admission, Korean Version of the Mini-Mental State Exam (K-MMSE) analysis showed that severe dementia affected 52%, and most were rated as Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) 6. Based on the admission date, the results of a simplified test applied to the dementia patients every 6 months showed an maintain in the K-MMSE and GDS scores in 83%. Conclusion : The results of this study show that the rate of progression of dementia is somewhat lower in inpatients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's who have received Western-Korean cooperative treatment. However, due to institutional limitations, long-term inpatients such as those with dementia do not receive active traditional Korean medical treatment; hence, it is necessary to improve the national institution of traditional Korean medicine in long-term care hospitals.