• 대한한의학회지
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• 제22권2호
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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 Acupuncture
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.194-203
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study was to observe the dose-dependent effects of bee venom (BV) pharmacopuncture on the serious ankle sprain in rats. Methods : The grade III ankle sprain was produced by surgically damaging the lateral ligaments complex of Sprague-Dawley rats. BV pharmacopuncture with the different doses($5{\mu}g/kg$, $10{\mu}g/kg$, $50{\mu}g/kg$) were treated on the different acupoints(GB34, GB39 and GB42) of the affected hind limb, respectively. By measuring foot weight bearing force ratio(FWBFR), the pain levels by ankle sprain and the pain recovery for 7 days were observed under BV pharmacopuncture on each acupoint. Results : In the normal and ankle sprained rat, the BV single administration decreased FWBFR in a dose - dependent pattern. The higher the BV dose, the higher the pain resulted in the normal and the sprained ankles. Especially, the dose - dependent effects of BV resulted in the most pronounced decrease in FWBFR in GB34. The recovery of FWBFR was shown at the low dose($5{\mu}g/kg$) BV and the effect was most remarkable in the BV of GB34, but the others showed no recovery effect compared with the control group. Conclusions : BV pharmacopuncture does not exhibit analgesic effects in acute phase of ankle sprain. However, the recovery of ankle sprain was more effective than the natural recovery in the case of low dose of BV repeated over time. Considering this, it is presumed that it would be important to select appropriate clinic guidelines for acute phase of ankle sprain.

• 한국전통의학지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.49-55
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• 2006

Objective: <千金方(Qianjinfang)> which documents a great amount of prescription of Acupuncture and moxibustion bikes 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-Ii 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 <千金方(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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• 제30권4호
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• pp.220-229
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• 2013

Objectives : Electroacupuncture(EA) has been used effectively in producing analgesia on ankle sprain pain of humans and animals. Currently to examine the underlying mechanisms of the EA-induced analgesia, the effects of EA on weight-bearing forces(WBR) were examined at ankle sprain classified as grade 3 in rats. Methods : The severe ankle sprain classified as grade 3 was induced surgically by ankle ligament injury in the Sprague-Dawley rats. WBR of the affected foot were examined to evaluate effects and mechanism of EA(2 Hz, 1 ms pulse width, 2 mA intensity, for 15 min) which was applied to either SI6, GB34, or GB39 acupoints. The rats were pretreated with naltrexone(10 mg/kg, i.p.) as an opioid receptor antagonist or phentolamine(5 mg/kg, i.p) as an ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor antagonist at 30 min before EA. Results : The daily repeat EA at either SI6, GB34, or GB39 showed significant analgesic effects on the severe ankle sprain. Particularly, daily EA at GB34 showed more potent analgesic effect than the others. In addition, the naltrexone pretreatment completely blocked the analgesic effect of EA at GB34, indicating the involvement of the endogenous opioid system in mediating the effect of EA at GB34. However, the phentolamine pretreament blocked analgesic effects of EA at either SI6 or GB39, indicating the involvement of ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors in mediating the effect of EA at either SI6 or GB39. Conclusions : These data suggest that EA-induced analgesia on ankle sprain pain is mediated through either endogenous opioids or ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors dependant on acupoint specific pattern.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.616-622
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• 2012

Objectives : The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between earlobe crease(ELC) and Hypertension(HTN) in the auricular point diagnosis. Methods : 140 patients who were admitted the Jeongeup City Geriatric Hospital were examined for the presence or absence of ELC and HTN. The one examined the ELC of patients and the other examined the presence of hypertension. The presence of right ELC, left ELC, right or left ELC, and right and left ELC were respectively compared with the presence of HTN. Chi-square test was used to analyze the correlation between ELC and HTN. Results : The presence of right ELC was significantly related to presence of HTN(p=0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictability of ELC for diagnosis of HTN were 0.755, 0.524, 0.787, and 0.478. The presence of left ELC was significantly related to presence of HTN(p=0.002). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictability of ELC for diagnosis of HTN were 0.745, 0.524, 0.785, and 0.468. The presence of right or left ELC was significantly related to presence of HTN(p<0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictability of ELC for diagnosis of HTN were 0.806, 0.500, 0.790, and 0.525. The presence of right and left ELCs was significantly related to presence of HTN (p=0.007). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictability of ELC for diagnosis of HTN were 0.694, 0.548, 0.782, and 0.434. Conclusions : These results show that the presence of ELC is significantly associated with hypertension.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.57-71
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• 2004

Objective : Physiological evidence regarding acupuncture's effect in human patients is not yet well established, despite considerable evidence for its therapeutic efficacy. Besides target or disease specificity of acupuncture, acupuncture analgesia (AA) appears to be another large subclass that poses many questions, such as whether there is point specificity with respect to which acupoint is most effective for a particular condition. Methods : We observed brain activation with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a set of stimuli that consist of pain, pain following Meridian acupuncture, and pain following Sham acupuncture. Results : Among the new observations, the most interesting fact is that data sets of both Meridian acupuncture and Sham acupuncture show decreased activation of the same brain areas related to the pain processing signals. Present functional MRI study demonstrate two important biological observations that could elucidate AA mechanism in human participants: the effects of acupuncture occur through mediation of the higher brain areas. Sham acupuncture stimulation appears to be almost as effective as traditional Meridian acupoint stimulation, suggesting that acupuncture is not entirely point specific. Decreased activation in the limbic paleo cortical areas appears to be the probable neurological manifestation of AA and strongly implies that acupuncture stimulation inhibits the transmission of ascending pain signals to the higher cortical areas by the previously known descending pain inhibitory circuit. Conclusion : We, therefore, a hypothesized that this pain inhibitory circuit is initiated and mediated via the broad sense Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal (BS HPA) axis in conjunction to the "sensory stimulation."

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제28권3호통권71호
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• pp.289-298
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• 2007

Objectives : Electrical acupoint stimulation (EAS) has been used to treat motor dysfunction of stroke patients with reportedly effective results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of EAS with different frequencies in treating motor dysfunction of ischemic stroke patients. Methods : The subjects of this study were sixty-two ischemic stroke patients with motor dysfunction at Kyunghee Oriental Medicine Hospital who were hospitalized for one week to one month from onset. They were treated with 2Hz or 120Hz EAS for two weeks, and motor evoked potentials (MEP) were measured before and after EAS treatment. To compare the effect of 2Hz EAS with 120Hz, we measured latency, central motor conduction time (CMCT) and amplitude of MEP before and after EAS treatment. Results : After two weeks of treatment, we compared MEP data of the affected side between the 2Hz group and the 120Hz group. The 2Hz group showed more significant improvement than the 120Hz group in latency, CMCT and amplitude (P=0.008, 0.002, 0.002). In case of the affected side MEP data divided by normal side MEP data, the 2Hz group also showed improvement on latency, CMCT and amplitude with significant differences (P=0.003, 0.000, 0.008). Conclusions : These results suggest that low frequency EAS activates the central motor conduction system better than high frequency EAS, and it means that EAS with low frequency is more helpful for motor recovery after ischemic stroke than that with high frequency.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.265-275
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• 2006

Objectives : Electrical acupoint stimulation(EAS) has been used to treat motor dysfunction of stroke patients with reportedly effective results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the EAS with different frequencies in treating motor dysfunction of ischemic stroke patients. Methods : The subject of this study were forty-two ischemic stroke patients with motor dysfunction in Kyunghee oriental medicine hospital who were hospitalized for one week to one month from onset. They were treated with 2Hz or 120Hz EAS for two weeks, and motor evoked potentials(MEP) were measured before and after EAS treatment. To compare the effect of 2Hz EAS with 120Hz, the number of patients who showed MEP responses after two weeks among those who had no previous response was checked. Also measured were latency, central motor conduction time(CMCT), amplitude of MEP before and after EAS treatment. Results : After two weeks of treatment, 4 out of 15 patients(27%) in the 2Hz EAS group and lout of 19 patients(5%) in the 120Hz group showed potential responses. Yet there was no significant difference between the two groups. When MEP data of the affected side between the 2Hz group and the 120Hz group was compared, the former showed more significant improvement than the latter in latency, CMCT and amplitude(P=0.040, 0.019,0.021). When the proportion of the affected side and unaffected side in MEP data was examined, the 2Hz group showed improvement on only latency and CMCT with significant differences(P=0.040, 0.014). Conclusions : These results show that EAS with low frequency is more helpful for motor recovery after ischemic stroke than that with high frequency. This suggests that low frequency EAS activates the central motor conduction system better than high frequency EAS.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.66-78
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• 2014

목적 : 경혈의 임피던스를 측정하여 경혈의 특이성을 확보하고자 다수 연구가 진행되어왔다. 직류전압과 교류전압을 자극하여 단순히 경혈이 위치한 피부 임피던스를 측정하는 방식이 아닌 Multi-Frequency Body Impedance analysis(MF BIA) 기법을 이용하여 생체 구조 성분(세포 외액, 세포내액의 저항성분 그리고 세포막의 용량성분)을 추출하는 방법을 이용하여 경혈의 특이성을 확보하고자 한다. 인체 내 생체 이온 변화가 발생하였을 시, 경혈이 비경혈에 발생 전/후 높은 변화율이 관찰될 것이라는 가정을 하에, 생체 이온 변화를 유도하기 위하여 근피로를 유발하였으며, 유도 전/후의 생체 구조 성분을 비교 분석하였다. 방법: 대퇴직근에 근피로를 유도하기 위하여 건강한 대학생에게 Knee extension/flexion의 등속도 운동을 통하였다. 생체 이온 변화를 확인하기 위하여 젖산을 측정하였으며, 피험자마다 동일한 근피로를 유발하기 위하여 EMG(electromyogram) 분석을 통하여 peak torque와 median frequency를 분석하였다. 근피로 유발 24시간 이후까지 젖산과 peak torque와 median frequency을 측정하였으며, 각 단계마다 복토(ST32), 음시(ST33) 과 인접한 비경혈 2개에 대하여 생체 구조 성분 또한 측정하였다. 결과 : 젖산과 peak torque와 median frequency은 24시간 이후 근피로 유발 전으로 회복되었다. 세포외액 저항성분의 경우 비경혈에 비하여 복토(ST32)에서 생체 이온 변화에 따라 높은 변화율이 관찰되었으나, 음시(ST33) 에서는 비경혈에 비하여 낮은 변화율이 관찰되었다. 세포내액 저항성분은 경혈과 비경혈 사이 유의한 차이가 관찰되지 않았다. 복토(ST32)에서 세포막의 용량성분이 높은 변화율이 관찰되었지만, 음시(ST33)와 인접한 비경혈간의 뚜렷한 차이가 확인되지 않았다. 결론 : 생체 이온 변화에 따라 인접한 비경혈과 비교해보았을 시, 경혈에서의 상대적으로 높고 낮은 혹은 유사한 변화율이 관찰되었다. 따라서 경혈의 특이성을 확보하지 못하였으며, 생체 구조 성분 추출을 통하여 세포 이온 변화에 따른 경혈의 특이성을 확보하기에는 한계점을 가지고 있다고 결론을 내렸다.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.277-289
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• 2009

최근 침의 신경생리학적 기전 및 경혈의 특이성을 밝혀내기 위해 기능적 자기공명영상(functional MRI, fMRI)을 이용한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. fMRI 영상은 손가락 마주치기검사(Finger Taps test), 깜박이는 체크무늬 흑백영상에 의한 시각자극과 같은 연구주제에서 동일한 대상자의 반복되는 동일 검사에서 유의한 편차가 나타난다는 보고가 있다. 하물며 다른 개별 대상자의 fMRI 검사를 이용한 자침의 효과 및 경혈의 특이성 연구에 있어서 그룹분석 결과를 확고하게 하기 위해서는 개별 대상자들 간의 편차의 정도를 파악하고 개별데이터가 그룹 분석에 미치는 영향을 이해할 때 fMRI를 이용한 연구의 한계와 그 극복 방안에 대하여 본질적으로 접근할 수 있다고 판단된다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 fMRI를 이용한 침 연구에서 개별분석 결과가 그룹분석 결과에 미치는 영향을 알아보는 것을 목적으로 계획되었다. 신체 건강한 성인 남자 15명을 대상으로 3.0 테슬러 자기공명영상장치를 이용하였다. 개인별 뇌구조영상과 뇌기능영상을 얻었으며, 뇌기능 영상은 진짜 침과 거짓 침 자극을 실시하였다. 자극방법은 블록방식(Block design)으로 30초의 비자극시간과 45초의 자극 시간을 3회 반복하여 총 3분 45초간 시행하였다. 자극은 우측 다리의 족삼리(ST36)를 이용하였고, 자침한 후 2 Hz의 속도로 침이 좌우로 반복하여 회전하도록 하여 자극을 주었다. 거짓 침 자극은 끝이 둥근 모양의 침으로 실시하였다. 뇌기능적 영상은 BOLD (Blood oxygenation level dependent) 경사자장 EPI (echo-planar imaging) 영상기법을 이용하였다. 각 피험자에 대한 개별 분석과 전체 피험자에 대한 그룹분석을 하였다. 족삼리 자침을 통한 개별분석 결과 거짓 침과 진짜 침 자극에 의한 뇌 활성화 반응은 개별 대상자들간의 편차가 큰 것으로 나타났으며, 이는 일부 대상자들에서만 나타난 뇌 활성화 반응의 결과가 그룹 분석의 결과에 크게 반영되었다는 것을 의미한다. 우리는 fMRI를 이용한 자침의 효과 및 경혈의 특이성 연구에 있어서 그룹분석 결과를 확고하게 하기 위해서는 개별 데이터들이 제공되어야 한다는 것을 제안한다.