• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.27-36
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• 2001

Objectives : In order to study the effects of Harpagophyti Radix Aqua -acupuncture in rats with arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant, performed several experimental items : that is edema rate, number of WBC, hemazocrit, platelet, total protein and albumin. Methods : In this study rats were divided into five groups : Normal group (non treated group), Control group (non-injected group in rats with arthritis induced by FCA), ST group (0.2cc normal Saline-injected group at right Chok-Samni(Zusanli,$ST_{36}$) once in every two days during the two weeks in rats with arthritis induced by FCA), HRS group (0.2cc Harpagophyti Radix-subcutaneous injected group once in every two days during the two weeks in rats with arthritis induced by FCA), HRST group (0.2cc Harpagophyti Radix-injected group at Chok-Samni($ST_{36}$) once in every two days during the two weeks in rats with arthritis induced by FCA). Results : 1. In the right plantar edema, HRS group showed a decrease with statistical significance on the 2 weeks and HRST group showed a decrease with statistical significance on the 1 weeks as compared with control group. 2. In the WBC, HRST group showed a meaningful decrease with statistical significance and also HRS group showed a decrease with statistical significanae as compared with control group. 3. In the platelet, HRST group showed a decrease with statistical significance as compared with control group. 4. In the hematocrit, HRS group showed a increase with statistical significance as compared with control group. 5. In the serum total protein and albumin, HRS group showed a increase with statistical significance as compared with control group. Conclusions : According to the above result, it is concluded that Harpagophyti Radix Aqua-acupuncture showed the therapeutic effect of antiinflammation in adjuvant arthritis and it is suggested that further studies and researchs for clinical use be needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.159-174
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• 2002

Objective : The meridian theory in oriental medicine explains that each acu-point has a characteristic functional effect. It will be supposed that an acupuncture stimulation on different acu-point evokes different activation on different areas in the central nervous system(CNS) according to the meridian theory. On this supposition, our group tried the semi-quantitative [14C]2-deoxyglucose([14C]2-DG) autoradiography on the acupuncture stimulation to the hindlimb acu-points of Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : A venous catheter for the intravenous administration of isotope was equipped in the right external jugular vein on 3 days prior to the [14C]2-DG study. On the day of the study, two acupuncture needles were inserted into the ST36(Zusanli) or LR3(Taichong) on the left hindlimb. Electro-acupuncture stimulation (2 Hz, 5 ms, 1~3 mA, 15 minutes) started just before the i.v. injection of [14C]2-DG ($25{\mu}Ci/rat$). The brain and the spinal cord were removed and processed for the [14C] 2-DG autoradiography. Results : The EA stimulation on ST36 reveals over 120% metaboilc activation in Arcuate nucleus, Anterior pretectal nucleus, Dorsal cochlear nucleus, Interposed cerebellar nucleus, and Nucleus of Darkschewitsch. The EA stimulation on LR3 reveals over 120% metaboilc activation in Lateral habenula nucleus, Medial vestibular nucleus, Ventromedial thalamic nucleus, Anteroventral thalamic nucleus, Anterior cingulate cortex, Dentate gyrus, Antero cortical amygdaloid nucleus, Anterior pretectal nucleus, and Dorsal tegmental nucleus compared with the non EA stimulation control group. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that the different acu-points evoke the different activations in brain areas. And with this functional brain mapping study, a new scientific elucidation for the basis of the acupuncture-meridian theory in oriental medicine through differences of activated area in CNS according to the each acupuncture point.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in kind, intensity and depth of de Qi sensation by patients' gender, age, BMI and sensitivity. Methods: Sixty-four healthy volunteers (mean age $26.51{\pm}4.72$, range 22-39) who had been studying anatomy, meridianology, acupuncture & moxibustion for more than five years at Dongguk University, Go-yang, Korea, were invited to take part in an investigation of the sensations associated with acupuncture needling. Needling was self-administered on Hegu (LI4) in the hand and Zusanli (ST36) in the leg randomly. After obtaining de Qi, the participants were asked the kind, intensity and depth of de Qi sensation. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the kind of de Qi sensation found by acupoints and needling methods (p>0.05). Hegu (LI4) was found to be significantly higher in the intensity (p<0.001), and the depth of de Qi sensation was significantly higher in Zusanli (ST36) than Hegu (LI4) (p<0.001). There was statistically significant difference found in the intensity of de Qi sensation by depth and sensitivity (p<0.05). In the depth of de Qi sensation, there was statistically significant difference found by sensitivity (p<0.05). In de Qi sensation of practitioners, there was statistically significant difference found by gender, BMI, the intensity of de Qi sensation (VAS) and sensitivity. Conclusions: Further study involving acupuncture de Qi sensation and the influencing factors is needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.199-205
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• 2006

Objectives : The present study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic effects of automatically controlled heating acupuncture(ACHA) using 2 different pain models(acute pain and neuropathic pain) and 2 different stimulation conditions (heating $41.5^{\cdot}C$ and heating $44.5^{\cdot}C$) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : Tail flick latency(TFL) to a noxious radiant heat stimulus in lightly anesthetized rats was measured before and after ACHA stimulation for 5-min at the Zusanli(ST36) acupoint. For the neuropathic surgery, the right superior caudal trunk was resected at the level between S1 and S2 spinal nerves innervating the tail. Two weeks after the nerve injury, ACHA stimulation($41.5^{\cdot}C$ or $44.5^{\cdot}C$) was delivered to Zusanli(ST36) for 5 min. The behavioral signs of warm allodynia were evaluated by the tail immersion test (i.e. immersing the tail in warm $water(40^{\cdot}C)$ and measuring the latency to an abrupt tail movement) before and after the ACHA stimulation. Results : In the TFL test, ACHA stimulations under both the conditions above produced more potent analgesic effects than plain acupuncture(PA, acupuncture needle insertion only) and control(no treatment). In the tail immersion test, ACHA stimulations under all of the conditions had markedly relieved the warm allodynia signs. Conclusion : Automatically controlled heating acupul1cture produced analgesic effecs in acute and neuropathic pains.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.7-21
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• 2014

Objectives : To observe the regenerative effects of indirect moxibustion, a traditional Korean medical treatment on skeletal muscles using mouse model of skeletal muscle adiposity. Methods : Twenty seven ICR male mice were randomly assigned into Intact control(n=3), glycerol treatment together without moxibustion(n=12), and glycerol treatment together with moxibustion (n=12) groups. Mice of glycerol treatment groups were injected with 50 ${\mu}l$ DW(distilled water) containing 50 % of glycerol into the two tibialis anterior. After injection, moxibustion was applied at 'Shenshu'($BL_{23}$) and 'Zusanli'($ST_{36}$) acupoints three times per each session, every days for twelve days(total 12 treatments). Phospho-Erk1/2, Myostatin protein levels were analyzed by western blotting and immunofluo-rescence staining techniques for tissues of the tibialis anterior muscle. Smad, phospho-Smad were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Results : 1. Histological analysis of sections from injected TA muscles showed that glycerol induced rapidly muscle necrosis, with a maximum at day 3. 6 days and 9 days after injection, muscle was regenerating. 2. According to western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, phospho-Erk1/2 protein signals in glycerol treatment with moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment without moxibustion group. 3. According to western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, myostatin protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. 4. According to immunofluorescence staining, Smad protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. 5. According to immunofluorescence staining, phospho-Smad protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. Conclusions : These results confirm that indirect moxibustion of 'Shenshu'($BL_{23}$) and 'Zusanli'($ST_{36}$) influences muscle regeneration in mouse models of skeletal muscle adiposity. Further discussion, and the establishment of moxibustion mechanism will prompt clinical application of moxibustion.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2000

This study has been carried out to understand histochemical and ultrastructural changes by acupuncture stimulation at the acupoint of the Zusanli (St. 36) in the rat. A lot of mast cells are observed in the peripheral of the hole with a sparrow-pecking and twistin -needle manipulation to the acupoint Zusanli for induction of 'Qi'. These cells contained a lot of granules with varied electron density and exocytosis granules were observed near the mast cell. H-bands of the muscle fiber that situated near the hole were shortened. It is assumed that these muscles are contracted by acupuncture stimulation. These results imply that functional relationship between mast cells in the dermis and Qi-sensation induced by acupuncture plays an important role on the specific receptor response to the mechanical stimulation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.155-163
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• 2001

It has known that acupuncture exerts various effects, such as analgesia, promotion of homeostasis, improvements in brain circulation, and rectification of internal disorders in Oriental medicine. Of particular, acupuncture at the Zusanli acupoint (ST36) has been widely used to relieve symptoms of diabetes mellitus. The effect of acupuncture at Zusanli on neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-positive neurons in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was investigated via immunohistochemistry. Decreased nNOS-positive neurons was detected in cerebrocortex of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Needling on the Zusanli in diabetic rats resulted in increase of nNOS-positive neurons in cerebrocortex, The present study indicate that acupuncture may affect nNOS-positive neurons in cerebrocortex of STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• 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.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.48-68
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• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this study is to obtain knowledge from clinical studies conducted in China to examine the effectiveness of Chuna treatment and its potential in childhood obesity. Methods 6 clinical studies up to March, 2018 about childhood obesity were reviewed using 'CAJ', Chinese Academic Journal from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and 'Pubmed'. Result 1. 6 eligible randomized control studies were selected based on our inclusion criteria. Then, the studies are analyzed by demographic information, treatment method, evaluation methods, and results. 2. Ordinary acupoints (正經穴) is the most common acupoint-applying method of Chuna therapy. The most frequently used acupoints were Zhongwan (CV12), Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36), Qihai (CV6), Fenglong (ST40) and Guanyuan (CV4). Conclusion In most of the studies, the overall effectiveness in the treatment group was better than that of the control group. The results of this study can be used for future studies of Chuna therapy in the child obesity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 2008

A 5-year-old male Chihuahua with oral discomfort due to the presence of a maxillary acanthomatous epulis was referred to the acupuncture service at the Veterinary Medical Center of the University of Florida. For the patient, acupuncture treatments were performed for 11 sessions, at 1 month intervals with Chinese herbal medicine. The acupuncture points and Chinese herbal medicine used were selected based on TCM principles. The selected acupoints were Zusanli(ST36), Fenglong(ST40), Gongsun(SP4), Sanyinjiao(SP6), Pishu(BL20), Weishu(BL21), Taichang(LIV3), and Baihui(GV20). In addition, the Chinese herbal formulas Nei Xiao Wan and Si Jun Zi Tang were chosen. After one year of acupuncture and administration of Chinese herbal medicine, the acanthomatous epulis was remarkably decreased in size. It is considered that the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine would be useful treatments of canine acanthomatous epulis.