• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.135-148
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• 2023

Objectives To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of post-disaster musculoskeletal pain by reviewing relevant clinical studies. Methods A systematic search was conducted across 10 electronic databases to identify relevant clinical studies on acupuncture treatment for post-disaster musculoskeletal pain until May 2023. The methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 and Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non-randomized studies tools. Results Six articles were analyzed, including two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two before-after studies, one qualitative research, and one case series. Overall, acupuncture therapy showed some improvement in pain scale among musculoskeletal pain survivors. However, no significant improvement was observed in the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ-2). Subgroup analysis of participants who completed at least four acupuncture sessions revealed a significant effect on the SFMPQ-2. Additionally, a significant improvement in 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF36P) was observed after 6 months of treatment, but the 2-month treatment period did not show statistically significant effects on SF-36P improvement. The evaluation of the methodological quality of the RCTs identified some concerns of bias. Conclusions The results suggest that acupuncture is effective in alleviating post-disaster musculoskeletal pain. However, considering the limited number of selected studies and the inclusion of subjective evaluation measures, caution should be exercised in interpreting the results. Further large-scale follow-up studies are needed to determine the optimal frequency and duration of acupuncture treatment. Well-designed controlled trials should be conducted to provide more robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture for post-disaster musculoskeletal pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.153-168
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• 2000

Introduction : In spite of the use of Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture in the clinics, the scientific evaluation on effects is not enough. Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture is used according to the stimulation of acupuncture point and the chemical effects of Bee Venom. The aims of this study is to investigate the analgegic effects of the Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture, through the change of writhing reflex and the change of c-fos in secondary neurons in the spinal cord. Materials and Methods : Pain animal model was used acetic acid method. The changes of writhing reflex of the mice which were derived pain by injecting acetic acid into the abdomen, after stimulating Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture on Chungwan(CV12) were measured. We used Fos immunohistochemical technique to study the neuronal activity in the spinal cord. Results : 1. Expression of c-fos in superficial dorsal horn(SDH), nucleus proprius(NP) and neck of dorsal hom(N) on 6~9th thoracic spine decreased significantly at $2.5{\times}10-4$g/kg Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture, compared with saline-acetic acid group. 2. The numeral change of Fos-LI neurons on the NP, N, and ventral gray(V) on 6-9th thoracic spine, SDH on 9-11th thoracic spine, and SDH and V on 11~13th thoracic spine decreased significantly at Chungwan(CV12) Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture, compared with saline-acetic acid group. 3. The correlation between the numbers of writhing refleax and Fos-LI neurons in T6-13 segment was statistically statistically significant at Chungwan(CV12) Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture. Conclusion : This study shows that the Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture on Chungwan(CV12) decreases the numbers of Fos-LI neurons. As the analgegic effects of Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture is recognized. Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture treatment is expected for pain modulation. In order to use it in many ways, more researches are needed for the dose and stability of Bee Venom aqua-acupuncture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.77-83
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography of knee osteoarthritis. Methods : 124 osteoarthritis patients classified by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) clinical criteria were included in the study. Simple X-ray and ultrasonography examination (effusion, osteophyte, articular cartilage, Backer's cyst) of knee in pain were performed. Also VAS, KWOMAC score were checked. Results : X-ray showed abnormal findings in 112 patients, but ultrasonography showed abnormal findings in all 124 patients. 12 Patients with unremarkable knee X-ray showed effusion and osteophyte in the ultrasonography. Effusion was discovered only in 18 cases of X-ray and 62 cases of ultrasonography. Group with effusion showed higher VAS mean figure but couldn't retrieve significant difference. KWOMAC showed no significant difference. Conclusions : Osteoarthritis patients with no abnormality in X-ray diagnosed abnormal findings through sonograph, which manifest that sonograph can be utilized for differential diagnosis especially sensitive on the problem of effusion.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.137-150
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of moxibustion treatment for osteoarthritis. There were 9 databases used to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used moxibustion as treatment for osteoarthritis. The quality of methodology for the RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool [Review Manager (RevMan) Version 5.3 Windows, The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark]. The inclusion criteria for this review was met by 27 RCTs. All studies were conducted in China. A 4-week moxibustion treatment period was the most common. EX-LE4 and SP10 and GB34 acupoints were most frequently selected in the treatment of osteoarthritis. The most commonly used evaluation index was the visual analog scale (VAS). All studies, including a meta-analysis showed that moxibustion treatments were statistically significantly effective at treating knee osteoarthritis. However, well-designed randomized RCTs without a high risk of bias should be designed in the future.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.403-407
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• 2002

The objective of this study is to establish the new evaluating method of tinnitus and to evaluate the effect of acupuncture therapy. Fourteen patients with tinnitus were studied. The patients answered the questionnaire designed to identify and describe the subjective symptoms of tinnitus and discomfort in daily life due to tinnitus. After acupuncture therapy, the survey was conducted again among the patients and we evaluated the difference between pre-acupuncture therapy and post-acupuncture therapy. 1. Precipitating factors of tinnitus among the patients group consisted of 14 members were stress, noise, drug, overwork, URI, and otitis media in order. 2. Significant improvements in subjective symptoms of tinnitus and discomfort in daily life after acupuncture therapy were identified among the patient group of 14 members 3. Patient group of 14 members were divided into 2 groups by digestion status: patients who have poor digestion and patients who have good digestion. The patients who have good digestion showed significant improvement both in subjective symptoms of tinnitus and in discomfort in daily life after acupuncture therapy. 4. Patient group of 14 members were divided Into 2 groups by urination and defecation status: patients who have poor urination and defecation and patients who have good urination and defecation. The patients who have good urination and defecation showed significant improvement both in subjective symptoms of tinnitus and in discomfort in daily life after acupuncture therapy. 5. Patient group of 14 members were divided into 2 groups by sleeping status: patients who sleep well and patients who don't sleep well. The patients who sleep well showed significant improvement both in subjective symptoms of tinnitus and in discomfort in daily life after acupuncture therapy. This study shows that the subjective symptoms of tinnitus and discomfort in daily life due to tinnitus are involved in urination and defecation factor, sleep factor, and digestion factor. This study also shows that acupuncture therapy is effective in improving the subjective symptoms of tinnitus and discomfort in daily life due to tinnitus.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.338-349
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate recent clinical studies on the effects of acupuncture on dementia. Method: We searched RCTs (randomized controlled trials) using the database PubMed (2000-2018). Clinical RCT studies of acupuncture used to treat dementia in humans were included. Nine randomized controlled trials were included. Results: Various acupoints such as Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Fengchi (GB20), and Shenting (GV24) were used to treat symptoms. The studies reported a decrease in evaluation criteria, such as the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and activities of daily living (ADL), for measuring cognitive ability. The acupuncture process, the results for outcome measure, and the effectiveness of studies were analyzed. We then assessed "risk of bias." Conclusions: Through this review, we found that acupuncture is applicable for the treatment of dementia. This can be used for future study.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.105-121
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• 2022

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture for sciatica. Methods We searched 13 online databases (Kmbase, Research Information Sharing Service [RISS], National Digital Science Library [NDSL], Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], Koreanstudies, Koreantk, DBpia, PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, Medline, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], J-stage) to find randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that used electro-acupuncture for sciatica. Efficacy rate and visual analogue scale (VAS) were mainly analyzed as a main evaluation criteria. Results Among 583 articles that were searched, 24 RCTs were finally selected and 18 RCTs were statistically analyzed. Electro-acupuncture was more effective than acupuncture in terms of efficacy rate (p<0.00001) and VAS (p<0.00001). Also, Electro-acupuncture was more effective than western medication in terms of efficacy rate (p=0.0005). However, the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture was not identified compared to physical therapy (p=0.42). Electro-acupuncture significantly improved efficacy rate when combined with physical therapy than physical therapy alone (p<0.0001). In addition, electro-acupuncture plus Chuna manual therapy compared to Chuna manual therapy alone showed positive results for efficacy rate (p=0.05) and VAS (p<0.0001). Conclusions Based on results, the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture for sciatica was identified. However, this study has limitations because the RCTs included in this study were small in number and published in a particular region. Although this study could be a groundwork for well designed research for sciatica.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.112-135
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• 2022

Objectives: The objective of this study was to summarize clinical studies conducted over the last five years that investigated the effect of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease and to propose a better process of study. Methods: Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Korea Studies Information Service (KISS), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were systemically searched for clinical trials that had investigated the effect of acupuncture on the course of Parkinson's disease from May 2016 to April 2021. Results: A total of 23 studies met all the inclusion criteria. In most reports, acupuncture had significant positive effects on the course of Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, there were no serious adverse events associated with acupuncture in any of the studies. In addition to the acupuncture methods that showed effectiveness in previous studies, various types of acupuncture have been used to treat sub-symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The outcome measures were subdivided through individual symptom evaluation and mechanical analysis. Follow-up assessments were also performed to analyze the continuous effect. Conclusion: In the clinical studies conducted over the last five years, many studies investigated the various types of acupuncture used to treat Parkinson's disease and the segmentation and diversification of outcome measures focusing on individual symptoms, and a new approach for excluding placebo effects through follow-up studies has been made. Further attempts like these are needed to overcome methodological flaws in studies on the effects of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.187-203
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the antimetastatic and immunomodulating effects of Patriniae Radix. Methods : Acute and subacute cytotoxicity experiment of Patriniae Radix was performed. Antimetastatic experiment was administered in vitro and in vivo. To observe the immunomodulating effects of Patriniae Radix, FACS analysis and ELISA assay were performed. Results : There was no acute and subacute toxicity responses in mouse treated with Patriniae Radix. Antimetastatic experiment in vitro and in vivo showed that Patriniae Radix has antimetastatic effects. This research revealed that Patriniae Radix mediate cellular immunity response. As compared with control, the population of total T cell, helper T cell, cytotoxic T cell and macrophage were increased. The production of Th 1 type cytokines from splenocyte and cytokines which is associated with anti-tumor activity form macrophage were increased significantly. Conclusion Patriniae Radix Herbal-acupuncture appears to have considerable activity on the treatment of liver metastasis from colon26-L5 carcinoma cell line, and deserves further evaluation in this setting.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.179-186
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• 2006

Background : Recently the demand was increasing on the data describing treatment rates and the outcome of Androgenetic Alopecia using Oriental Medicine. Thus this study was designed to observe androgenetic Alopecia treatment using Oriental Medicine including acupuncture and herb because there has been no such statistics. Objectives : Our purpose was determine whether oriental medicine treatment leads to clinical improvement in men with androgenetic alopecia. Methods : Eighty two Men, 17 to 53 years of age, with male pattern hair loss according to a modified Norwood/Hamilton classification scale(II to VI) were enrolled in this study. Patients were treated with multidisciplinary Korean oriental medicine treatment (herbal acupuncture, acupuncture, herb, chuna therapy) at twice a week for 6 months to 12 months. Efficacy was evaluated by patient and investigator assessment, and global photographic review. Results : Oriental medicine treatment improved scalp hair by all evaluation. Patient self assessment demonstrated that Oriental medicine treatment slowed hair loss, increased hair growth, and improvement appearance of hair. These improvements were corroborated by investigator assessments and assessments of photographs. Conclusion : Oriental medicine treatment has significant effects on the androgenetic alopecia. Longer follow up studies are needed to examine whether its effects last long enough for the patients with androgenetic alopecia.