• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.93-113
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• 2016

Objectives : The focus of the review was laid on differences in research pertaining to thread embedding acupuncture between domestic and foreign journals. Methods : We collected 53 Korean articles on thread embedding acupuncture study from 4 Korean article searching sites, and 80 foreign articles from Pubmed. We analyzed the number of the theses according to the publication year, study method, journal, and subject. Results : A total number of 134 thread embedding acupuncture articles were categorized as 100 clinical trials, 14 experimental papers, and 19 literature reviews. Of the collected clinical trials, 55 were case studies, 6 were CCTs and 39 were RCTs. The domestic clinical trials were comprised of 36 case studies, 1 CCT, and 2 RCTs, and foreign clinical trials were comprised of 19 case studies, 5 CCTs, and 37 RCTs. Although only 12 of the 39 domestic clinical trials exclusively treated thread embedding acupuncture to the experimental group, 38 out of 61 foreign clinical trials undertook thread embedding acupuncture as the sole treatment. While the 2 domestic RCTs research had no significant evidence that the experimental group was different from the control group, the experimental group demonstrated better responses than the control group in 31 of the 37 foreign RCT studies. Conclusions : Studies on thread embedding acupuncture are more intensively studied in the foreign field in comparison to the domestic field. Referring to the results from the foreign thread embedding acupuncture studies, domestic use of thread embedding acupuncture should be expanded. Also, more refined research needs to be conducted in the domestic field in order for the Koran medicine to lead the thread embedding acupuncture. This study is limited in that the literature search in the foreign journals were restricted.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2016

Objective : Thread embedding acupuncture has become popular as a minimally invasive treatment for facial wrinkles and laxity. However, there is little published clinical practice guidelines about disinfection, sterilization and aseptic technique for thread embedding acupuncture. This study is to introducing a specific guidelines about disinfection, sterilization and aseptic technique for thread embedding acupuncture.Method : We reviewed internal regulations and guidelines about hospital infection, and Traditional Korean medicine doctors, nurses, and director of central supply room discussed in depth and established a regulation of disinfection, sterilization and aseptic technique for thread embedding acupuncture.Result : The regulation of disinfection, sterilization and aseptic technique for thread embedding acupuncture consisted of ① management of supplies, ② guidelines of disinfection, sterilization, and reuse, ③ aseptic technique for thread embedding acupuncture.Conclusion : Microbial management is an essential element of medical care and quality. Traditional Korean medicine doctors will care for disinfection, sterilization, and this should not neglect to comply with the procedures and guidelines in the medical field as well as to understand the aseptic techniques.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.55-58
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of treatment with thread-embedding therapy for 24 patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS). The muscle spasm of these patients was treated with thread-embedding therapy. Patients with nuchal pain were treated with tendino-musculature acupuncture in the sternocleidomastoid, splenius, and trapezius muscles. We evaluated the treatment effect using the Scott's scale, where 20, 3, 1, and 0 patients presented Scott's grade 0, grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3, respectively. The grade of the spasm intensity decreased noticeably after treatment. The results revealed that the Scott's grade changed to 0 in 83.3% of HFS patients, and 91.7% patients felt satisfied with thread-embedding therapy. These findings suggested that thread-embedding therapy was effective and can be used widely for HFS.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.119-133
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• 2015

Objective : Thread embedding acupuncture has become popular as a minimally invasive treatment for facial wrinkles and laxity. However, there is little published clinical practice guidelines. This study is to developing a specific procedure of thread embedding acupuncture for facial wrinkles and laxity. Method : We reviewed and summarized 6 studies on thread embedding acupuncture for facial wrinkles and laxity. And, four practitioners who have more than four year of clinical experience and one hundred of cases were participated in developing a thread embedding acupuncture procedure for facial wrinkles and laxity. Result and conclusion : We developed a thread embedding acupuncture procedure for facial wrinkles and laxity which consists of correction of lower jaw, facial laxity, nasolabial fold and eye wrinkles.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.27-34
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of thread-embedding therapy against partial obesity. Methods : 9 women from 20 to 30 with partial obesity were treated with thread-embedding therapy and then surveyed satisfaction, reaction after treatment and whether they were re-treated or not. The results of before and after treatment were compared with physical measurement, body composition tests and fat thickness measured by ultrasound. Results : The satisfaction of patients was high and side effects were pain, bruises and unnaturalness of action, but 8 of 9 patients wanted to re-treatment. The effect of thread-embedding therapy against partial obesity was continuous and was most pronounced during the first week. Conclusions : Thread-embedding therapy may be useful to reduce partial obesity without different treatments of obesity, diet, exercise etc.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the duplicate effect of thread-embedding therapy against obesity. Methods : 5 women from 20 to 30 with obesity were treated with thread-embedding therapy and compared the results with physical measurement, body composition tests and fat thickness measured by ultrasound. Results : The thread-embedding therapy locally reduced body size and fat thickness and had a cumulative effect, but showed the greatest effect in the abdominal region. It didn't affect to the overall change of body composition. Conclusions : The duplicate procedure of thread-embedding therapy for obesity had a cumulative effect, but it depended on the treatment region.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.39-47
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine the clinical effects of thread embedding acupuncture on lumbar herniated intervertebral disc patients. Methods : This is a retrospective study based on clinical charts. Despite the treatments of acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapy during admission period, 10 lumbar herniated intervertebral disc patients who had shown few improvements in their symptoms were selected as subjects. Thread embedding acupuncture was conducted to reduce patient pain. Patient progress was categorized into three periods based on when the embedding procedure performed. Verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and a 5 step evaluation scale for satisfaction were used to analyze the outcome. Results : Regarding comparison of VNRS improvement rate, both 3 and 6 days after embedding progress showed significant difference compared to before embedding progress. ODI improvement rate showed significant difference only 6 days after embedding progress. Patients' satisfaction with treatment had increased by several degrees. Conclusion : Thread embedding acupuncture for lumbar herniated intervertebral disc patients may be effective in reducing pain and improving their quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the thread embedding treatment studies of obesity in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Methods : We reviewed 59 studies on cat-gut-embedding treatment of obesity which were published from 2005 to 2012. The studies were searched using the data base-CAJ(China Academic Journals; 中國期刊全文數據庫)(2005~2012). Results : Selected 59 studies were divided into 27 case series and 32 control studies. The number of studies has increased since 2005, more rapidly in 2011~2012. Most case series reported were about effectiveness of thread embedding monotherapy treating obesity. Control studies reported were about effectiveness of thread embedding treatment compared with acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and medicine. Most studies on thread embedding treatment of obesity showed that its effectiveness was very good. Conclusions : There have been many reports of thread embedding treatment studies of obesity in Traditional Chinese Medicine. We believed that these studies could be applied to the clinical practice and basic research in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.159-165
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was performed to review the efficacy of national and international randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating evidence on thread embedding therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Methods : Online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, NDSL, OASIS, CNKI) were searched for studies where thread embedding therapy was performed for Knee Osteoarthritis from their inception to July 2018. Two researchers independently performed the search. Only RCTs were selected. Eligible studies were selected first by the abstract and the title and then included after full-texts were read. Risk of bias of the included studies were evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Data were narratively summarized. Results : There were 334 studies retrieved from the databases, resulting in analysis of 3 RCTs. There was an average of 1.5 treatment visits over a 7 day period and evaluation tool used was efficacy rate, with traditional acupuncture being the most common control used in the trials. Statistically significant improvement by thread embedding therapy was reported. None of the included RCTs reported on adverse reactions. The risk of bias of the included studies was generally unclear. Conclusion : The review suggests that thread embedding therapy can be effective in knee osteoarthritis. But there was a lack of detailed information about the treatment procedures, and the risk of bias was unclear. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence for thread embedding therapy for knee osteoarthritis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.113-121
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the treatment mechanism of Thread-embedding acupuncture, which is used in Korean medicine beauty treatment. Methods : After searching papers published up to January 1, 2023 using the keyword "Thread-embedding" through the OASIS site, we selected beauty papers that mentioned the treatment mechanism of Thread-embedding acupuncture. Results : A total of 60 papers were retrieved: 19 papers on the topic of cosmetic diseases, 35 papers on the theme of other diseases, and 6 papers written unrelated to diseases. Among the 19 papers on the topic of cosmetic diseases, one unreadable paper was excluded. Among the 18 papers, we finally selected 6 papers that mentioned treatment mechanisms: 2 on facial wrinkles, 2 on obesity, 1 on breast enlargement, and 1 on transdermal hydration. The treatment mechanism of Thread-embedding acupuncture is that in the case of facial wrinkles, polydioxanone(PDO) is embedded to fill the volume, and as it decomposes, it causes a tissue reaction around the area. In obesity, it promotes fat decomposition by improving circulation, and promotes breast enlargement and elasticity through collagen formation. In transdermal hydration, it induces the production of surrounding fibers to increase skin elasticity and moisture. Conclusions : Thread-embedding acupuncture appears to have a cosmetic effect through a mechanism that promotes the production of collagen and elastic fibers in the subepidermal dermal layer and increases the activity of skin moisturizing factors during the absorption process after the PDO suture is embedded.