• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.132-138
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• 2021

Artificial intelligence technology sheds light on new ways of innovating acupuncture research. As acupoint selection is specific to target diseases, each acupoint is generally believed to have a specific indication. However, the specificity of acupoint selection may be not always same with the specificity of acupoint indication. In this review, we propose that the specificity of acupoint indication can be inferred from clinical data using reverse inference. Using forward inference, the prescribed acupoints for each disease can be quantified for the specificity of acupoint selection. Using reverse inference, targeted diseases for each acupoint can be quantified for the specificity of acupoint indication. It is noteworthy that the selection of an acupoint for a particular disease does not imply the acupoint has specific indications for that disease. Electronic medical record includes various symptoms and chosen acupoint combinations. Data mining approach can be useful to reveal the complex relationships between diseases and acupoints from clinical data. Combining the clinical information and the bodily sensation map, the spatial patterns of acupoint indication can be further estimated. Interoperable medical data should be collected for medical knowledge discovery and clinical decision support system. In the era of artificial intelligence, machine learning can reveal the associations between diseases and prescribed acupoints from large scale clinical data warehouse.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.145-158
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• 2020

Objectives : Mast cells, the multifunctional immune cells which can be activated by various stimulations, have been in the limelight recently at the fields of acupuncture research. This study aimed to investigate the association between the distribution of mast cell and acupoint specificity. We focused on the characteristics of mast cell distribution of acupoints in normal, pathologically sensitized, and acupoint-stimulated state. Methods : Literature searches were performed on PubMed and EMBASE for dates ranging to February 2019, by using terms "acupuncture", "moxibustion", "acupoint", "mast cell". Finally, 18 papers were collected by inclusion and exclusion criteria. To assess the quality of included studies, modified SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies was used. Results : Overall, the studies showed that the number of the mast cells was higher in acupoints than non-acupoints. After pathological sensitization, increasing tendency towards the mast cell number was reported in acupoints. The increase of mast cells was also observed after acupuncture or moxibustion. However, when the acupoint stimulation was repeated for several days in pathological models, the results did not show consistent tendency. In quality assessments, most of the studies showed unclear risk of bias. Conclusions : The studies showed a consistent trend about the association with mast cell distribution and acupoint specificity. However, we could not certainly affirm the relationship due to insufficient qualities of included studies. Not only the distribution but also the functions should be considered in further researches to identify the relationship between mast cells and acupuncture effect.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2008

Objectives : Accurate location of acupoints is a prerequisite for both practice and research into acupoint specificity. Given that accurate location of acupoints is one of the most important issues in meridianology education, this study aimed at evaluating if the elastic ruler method for locating acupoints is suitable for meridianology practice class. Methods : Fifty-six students who took meridianology practice class participated in the experiment. Firstly, they were asked to locate PC6, CV12 and ST36 without any assisting tools and the distance between standard acupoint and their acupoint location was measured. Secondly, they were again asked to locate the same points this time with an elastic ruler. Then the first and second measurements were compared using a paired t-test. Results : Analysis of the results found using an elastic ruler significantly improved the difference between the student's acupoint location and the standard acupoint: there was a significant difference between 1st and 2nd measurements for PC6 (1.87${\pm}$0.29mm vs. 1.28${\pm}$0.19mm, P=0.037) and for ST36 (2.70${\pm}$0.22mm vs. 1.38${\pm}$0.15mm, P<0.0001). Conclusions : Using an elastic ruler as an assisting tool for locating acupoints in meridianology practice class should be considered for improving accuracy in acupoint location.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.111-120
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• 2009

Objectives : Although Hwe Yang Gu Chim Hyul is important for acupuncture treatment in emergency and has been widely used, but there is few study about that, except some comments in ancient literatures. So in this study, the author reviewed the Hwe Yang Gu Chim Hyul, investigating the composition and the function, and found the meaning with analysis based on meridian. Methods : 1. The author reviewed several ancient literatures related with the Hwe Yang Gu Chim Hyul. 2. The author investigated the composition of Hwe Yang Gu Chim Hyul, and the location, acupuncture treatment, specificity, disease of each acupoint. 3. Following the investigation, the author found the meaning, the mechanism of function, and the clinical usefulness, based on analysis with meridian. Results : 1. Hwe Yang Gu Chim Hyul had been referred in "Chim Gu Chwei Young" for the first time. 2. Hwe Yang Gu Chim Hyul is composed of 9 acupoints, i.e. 1 acupoint of Governor Vessel, 1 acupoint of Conception Vessel, 2 acupoints of Yang Myoung meridian, 1 acupoint of So Yang meridian, 1 acupoint of Tae Eum meridian, 2 acupoints of So Eum meridian, 1 acupoint of Gwel Eum meridian. 3. It has not been controversial since the comment of "Chim Gu Chwei Young", and it became the origin. Conclusions : 1. Hwe Yang Gu Chim Hyul can be used for an emergency resulted from chronic disease based on heart failure and accumulation of food.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine whether electroacupuncture(EA) is effective in reducing pain on the severe ankle sprain classified as grade 3 in rats. Methods : The severe(grade 3) ankle sprain model was induced surgically by ankle ligament injury(the anterior talofibular, the calcaneofibular and the posterior talofibular) in the Sprague-Dawley rats(180~250 g). The effects of EA on weight bearing forces(WBR) of the affected foot were examined in a rat model of ankle sprain. EA was applied to either SI6, ST37, GB34, GB39 or GB42 acupoints by trains of electrical pulses(2 Hz, 1 ms pulse width, 2 mA intensity) for 15 min. Results : Cutting of the lateral ankle ligament complex produced the severe ankle sprain symptoms as grade 3. EA of the contralateral SI6 resulted in more analgesic effect than one of ipsilateral SI6 even though there was significant effect. EA of the ipsilateral GB34 and GB39 produced potent analgesic effects on the surgical ankle sprained pain behaviors. However, there were no significant analgesic effects in the contralateral GB34 and GB39 EA groups. In addition, both side of ST37 and GB42 did not result in analgesic effect on the surgical ankle sprained rat. Conclusions : The data suggest that EA induced analgesia shows point specificity on the severe ankle sprained pain model classified as grade 3.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.161-168
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• 2005

Objective : <千金方(Qianjinfang)> which documents a great amount of prescription of Acupuncture and moxibustion takes an important role during the development of acupuncture and moxibustion. Thus, it have given rise us to the research-situation of Tang Dynasty China of previous period. This study was to outline the rules of choosing acupoints as well as the prescriptions of contemporary times in reference with <千金方(Qianjinfang)>, and to discuss the conception of acupuncture and moxibustion in <千金方(Qianjinfang)>. Method : Based on <千金方(Qianjinfang)>, the parameters were categorized to a certain scope, syndromes in different type were classified. Also numbers of acupoints, route of meridians locations, utilities of special acupoints even prescription methods were statistically analyzed in reference with <千金方(Qianjinfang)>. Results & Conclusion : Acupuncture prescription in <千金方(Qianjinfang)> was mostly presented by single acupoint and this was basic prescription of its rule of choosing acupoints. Choosing acupoint for the majority of various diseases started from choosing meridians with the disorder, but no rules for choosing acupoints was clear. There was basically various methods in choosing acupoints, but little were used by Biao-li meridian choosing method (表裏經配穴). In the high frequency of use, wu-shu acupoints was higher used than other specific acupoints (特定穴). While wu-shu acupoints treated the major parts of the diseases, shu-mo acupoints were strictly used on system. Consequently, The theoretical basis originating the choosing rules of the acupoints and prescriptions was shown in <手金方(Qianjinfang)> as representative clinical reference, through which it was valuable to analyze the prescription rule and specificity of the acupoints.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.109-126
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• 2009

Objectives: To investigate the effects of Chrysanthemum indicum L. pharmacopuncture on lipids, antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammation in rats fed high-fat diet. Methods: Hyperlipidemic rats induced by high-fat diet were divided into 5 groups: no treatment control (normal, n=8), high-fat diet only control (control, n=8), high-fat diet and Chrysanthemum indicum L. pharmacopuncture at CV4 group (TI, n=8), high-fat diet and Chrysanthemum indicum L. pharmacopuncture at CV17 group (TII, n=8), and high-fat diet and Chrysanthemum indicum L. pharmacopuncture at EX-HN3 group (TIII, n=8). They were given pharmacopuncture accordingly every other day for two weeks followed by analyses of lowering lipids effects, oxidative capacity and anti-inflammatory effects. Results: Compared with the control, pharmacopuncture groups showed significantly decreased plasma total cholesterol (TC), liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, neutrophils, monocytes, plasma and liver IL-$1{\beta}$, and plasma and liver IL-6. In other parameters including plasma and liver triglyceride, liver TC, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, liver TBARS, supraoxide dismutase, total protein, albumin, blood cell analysis, plasma and liver TNF-$\alpha$, and IL-10, there was no significant difference between control and pharmacopuncture groups. No clear acupoint-specificity was observed. Conclusions: Chrysanthemum indicum L. pharmacopuncture may improve control of hyperlipidemia.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.130-135
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• 2015

Objectives : This study is to investigate stimulation effects of acupoints at differential meridian along arm and leg on the physiological phenomenon of heartbeats. Methods : 8 subjects were participated in this study. The experiments were performed in Resting session(Rs), Insertion session(Is), Stimulation session1(Ss1), Stimulation session2(Ss2), Stimulation session3(Ss3) sequence. Time of each session and the interval between each session was 30 seconds all. Acupuncture was performed manually on PC3 or LR8 at random with a two-day interval. stand deviation of N-N interval(SDNN) was measured for each session. Results : At PC3, SDNN increased in Ss1, Ss2, and Ss3 compared to Rs but at LR8, there was little change between Ss1, Ss2, Ss3 and Rs. Post-hoc analysis revealed that mean value of SDNN significantly increased in Ss1 compared with Baseline at PC3, while there was little change at LR8. When LR8 and PC3 were compared at each time point, there was a significant difference only in Ss1. Conclusions : Our results indicate that there is a correlation between specific physiological functions and acupoints.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2013

Objectives : Many studies have investigated the electric specificity of meridian and acupoint. However, the definition about the real substance of 'Ki(Qi)' that flows in the meridian has not been established yet. The authors hypothesized that the 'Ki(Qi)' may be the very 'bioelectricity' of western medicine, from two common features that they are not visible with naked eyes and that they function in the living body only. Methods : 20 healthy adults participated in this study. Heart rate was measured before and after exercise. Acupuncture was performed at PC6 immediately after exercise with counter balance in the first experiment. In the second experiment, acupuncture group was further divided to the three groups, i.e. glove acupuncture group, manual acupuncture group, and NaCl acupuncture group. In the glove group, acupuncturist put on the two folds of latex gloves to block bioelectric currents between the acupuncturist and subject. In the NaCl group, acupuncturist had his fingertips wet with NaCl solution. Results : Exercise increased Heart Rate and acupuncture at PC6 inhibited this increase. In the second experiment, the significant difference compared to the comtrol group was the most in NaCl acupuncture and the least in Glove acupuncture. However, there was no significant difference between three groups. Conclusions : The results of this study seem to be deficient as a conclusive evidence for the hypothesis that the 'Ki(Qi)' of Korean Medicine is the 'bioelectricity' of western medicine.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.211-224
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• 2008

Objectives : To investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at GB34 on hepatotoxicity in $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats. Methods : Rats were injected with $CCl_4$ and treated with acupuncture or 2 Hz electro-acupuncture (EA) at left GB34 three times a week for 10 weeks. A non-acupoint in left gluteal area was selected as a sham point. To estimate the effects of EA on hepatotoxicity in rats, body weight, liver weight and liver index were measured, and biochemical assays for serum ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol, and hematological analysis for RBC, WBC, PLT, hemoglobin, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes, and histology analysis of liver tissue were performed. Results : 1. Lymphocyte level in blood was significantly decreased by $CCl_4$-intoxication and significantly increased by acupuncture and 2 Hz EA at left GB34. 2. Neutrophill and monocyte level in blood was increased by $CCl_4$-intoxication and significantly reduced by acupuncture and 2 Hz EA at left GB34. 3. Acupuncture and 2 Hz EA at left GB34 significantly reduced serum ALT and AST which were increased by $CCl_4$-intoxication. 4. EA at GB34 significantly reduced serum ALT and AST as compared with EA at sham point in $CCl_4$-intoxicated rat. 5. No significant difference was found between the effects of acupuncture and that of 2 Hz EA on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in rats. Conclusions : 2 Hz EA at GB34 has hepatoprotective effects on $CCl_4$-induced liver damage in rats and the point-specificity of GB34 may be involved in these effects.