• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.65-75
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• 2002

Objective : Since ancient times venepuncture has been widely used as a useful treatment for low back pain. This study is made in order to objectively evaluate the therapeutic effect of Weizhong(BL40) on low back pain. Methods : Total 46 cases of low back pain patients were divided into 2 groups; one group took only acupuncture therapy, and the other group took acupuncture and venepuncture therapy together. Each patient's pain was evaluated before the treatment and the 3 or 4 days later after the treatment. Pain rating score(PRS) was used to assess the pain for its intensity, frequency, duration, and aggravating factors. Results : Both acupuncture therapy group and acupuncture & venepuncture group showed good effect on low back pain. Though the latter group showed better pain release effect than the former, there was no statistical significance between pain rating score of two groups. Sciatica group showed no significant difference from non-sciatica group in pain rating score. Palpation on Weizhong(BL40) group showed significant difference only in pain duration from non-palpation group. Exposed vessel around Weizhong(BL40) group showed significant difference in pain rating score from non-exposed vessel group. Conclusion : Weizhong(BL40) venepuncture can be highly recommended as a useful therapy for low back pain patients especially who show exposed vessels on the popliteal area.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.66-78
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• 2010

Background: Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly-encountered clinical problem and often result in a chronic pain and severe functional deficits. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture on the descending pain and the recovery of the locomotor function that follows sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Method: In order to assess the effects of acupuncture on the descending pain and functional recovery, we investigated the walking track analysis, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) expression in the sciatic nerve, and on the expressions of c-Fos and nitric oxide synthase in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus and in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) region resulting from sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Results: Acupuncture treatment at Huantiao (GB30), Yanglingquan (GB34), and Weizhong (BL40) facilitated functional recovery. C-Fos and nitric oxide synthase expressions in the brain and BDNF and TrkB expressions in the sciatic nerve were decreased by acupuncture treatment. The most potent effects of acupuncture were observed at the GB30 acupoint. Conclusion: It is possible that acupuncture can be used for pain control and functional recovery from sciatic nerve injury.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.143-153
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• 1999

Background: The vasoreactivity of cerebral artery is currently the subject of increasing interest Transcranial Doppler The purpose of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of acupuncture in a model of neuropathic pain produced by segmental spinal nerve injury (SSI) in rats. The left L5 and L6 spinal nerves of Sprague-Dawley rats were tightly ligated, and one week later, manual or electro-acupuncture was applied for 30 minutes to the contralateral hindlimb (right side) while the animal was lightly anesthetized with halothane. The mechanical threshold of the paw for ipsilateral (left side) hind limb flinching was determined prior to and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours after termination of acupuncture. The mechanical threshold for flinching was significantly elevated for about 4 hours after manual acupuncture applied to the BL. 60 (Kunlun) point or electro-acupuncture to the BL. 60 and BL. 40 (Weizhong) points. However, manual acupuncture applied to the ST. 36 (Zusanli) point was not effective. Furthermore, systemic naloxone pretreatment had no effect on the acupuncture induced threshold elevation. These data suggests that acupuncture produces a point specific, naloxone independent analgesia in a rat neuropathic pain model. ※ This paper is supported by a grant from the '1996 Jusan Foundation of Wonkwang university.)

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.39-61
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• 2008

목적 : 좌골신경 압좌손상으로 유발된 쥐의 모델을 이용하여 손상된 말초신경의 재생효과에 관한 침자극 효과를 세포분자학적, 조직학적 관점에서 연구하였다. 아울러 손상 좌골신경을 지배하는 척수신경근과 가까운 부위 경혈자극과 좌골신경이 지배하는 말초부위 경혈자극과의 침자극 효과를 비교 연구하였다. 방법 : 한쪽 좌골신경에 압좌손상을 유발 한 실험쥐들을 1주, 2주로 나눈 뒤 각각에 대해 격일로 1주군은 3회, 2주군은 6회의 침자극을 시행하였다. 손상 좌골신경의 재생효과를 비교실험하기 위해 정상군, 압좌손상만을 유발한 실험군, 침자극 군으로 나누었다. 침자극 군 중 한 군은 손상신경을 지배하는 척수신경근에 가장 가까운 2개의 화타협척혈(EX B2)에 자침(근위부 자극군)하였고, 다른 한 군은 말초부위에 위치한 족삼리혈(ST 36)과 위중혈(BL 40) 2곳에 자침(원위부 자극군)하였다. 실험 후 각각의 조직을 분리하여 Western blotting 혹은 Hoechst staining으로 Gap-43, Cdc2, Cdk2, Erk1/2 단백질을 분석 및 좌골신경의 각 세포수를 측정하였다. Retrograde tracing을 통해 L5의 DRG와 척수에서 말초신경 재생 효과를 관찰하였고, Immunofluorescence staining을 통해 신경돌기 가지의 신장 정도를 파악하였다. 결과 : 좌골신경 손상 7일된 실험쥐의 근위부와 원위부 침자극군에서 GAP-43와 Cdc2 단백질수준이 향상된 것으로 나타났다. Cdk2 단백질수준은 압좌손상 실험군에서 강하게 증가하였지만 침자극군과 비교해서 별다른 차이는 보이지 않았다. Phospho-Erk1/2 단백질수준은 침자극군에서 향상된 것으로 나타났다. 손상 7일과 14일 된 실험쥐의 손상 원위부에서 슈반세포 수가 증가하였으며 특히 근위부 침자극군에서 더욱 증가한 것으로 나타났다. Retrograde tracing을 이용한 검사 결과 침자극군에서 L5의 DRG와 척수의 염색 세포 수가 증가된 것으로 나타나 침자극이 축삭재생에 효과적인 것으로 나타났다. L5의 DRG 감각신경의 신경돌기 가지 신장정도 및 GAP-43 단백질의 발현 정도를 측정한 결과 근위부 침자극군에서 효과적으로 GAP-43 단백질의 발현 및 신경돌기 가지가 신장된 것으로 나타났다. 결론 : 본 실험결과 침치료가 손상 좌골신경의 재생에 효과적인 것으로 보여지며, 특히 손상된 좌골신경을 지배하는 척수신경근 주위 화타협척혈에 대한 침자극이 말초부위의 침자극에 비해 신경재생에 더욱 효과적인 것으로 나타났다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.115-125
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to observe the inhibitory effects of $Chrthami$ semen oil pharmacopuncture(CSOP) on CIA (collagen-induced arthritis) mice. Materials and Methods : Two types of experiments were conducted: $in$ $vitro$ assay, inhibition of MIF mRNA and TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA expressions in synovial membranes was observed, and $in$ $vivo$ assay, $1{\mu}{\ell}/kg$ CSOP was injected every day to the left $Weizhong$ ($BL_{40}$) from day 3 to 21 after induction of CIA, and changes in paw edema, apical surface morphology, neovascularization in synovial membranes, fibrosis, pro-inflammatory cytokines production, Th-1 differentiation, and anti-inflammatory effect were investigated. Results : 1. In synoviocytes of the CIA mice treated with CSOP, MIF mRNA and TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA expressions were down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. 2. Paw edema of the CIA mice treated with CSOP was diminished. 3. Tissue injury in the synovial membranes, capillary distribution and fibrosis were reduced in CSOP-treated mice. 4. MIF, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, MMP-9 expressions were repressed in CSOP-treated mice during the experiment to observe the inhibitory effect on cytokines production in early stage RA. 5. IL-12 and CD28 were reduced in CSOP-treated mice during the observation of inhibitory effect on Th 1 differentiation. 6. PPAR-${\gamma}$ was increased during the experiment to observe the anti-inflammatory effect of CSOP. Conclusions : The results may suggest that administration treatment using $Chrthami$ semen oil pharmacopuncture decreases the inflammatory response on an Animal Model with CIA.