• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Objectives : When we understand the characters of certain person or object, we try to follow each one's or its past up. Korean Journal of Acupuncture is one of the most significant journal in acupuncture study fields in Korea. To understand the trends of study in acupuncture study fields, I made a subject with Korean Journal of Acupuncture. Methods : I made an evaluation and classification for all 713 articles' headline from vol. 17(2000 year) to vol.32(2015 year). Results : 1. Experimental Reseach : There were major portion articles for pharmaco-acupuncture study out of studies for acupuncture, moxibustion, chiropratics, devices and so on. 2. Bibliographical Research and Basic Theory Research : There were major portion articles for medians and acu-point study out of studies for article review and text book itself. Also, there were major portion articles for meridian and acupuncture study out of studies for Qigong, pulse, anatomy and so on. 3. Clinical Research : There were major portion articles for acupuncture study out of studies for moxibustion, chiropratics, devices, complex treatments and so on. 4. Others : There were major portion articles for diagnosis and measurement devices out of acupuncture, laser, pulsing device and so on. Also, there were surveys for recognition of patients and medical services and evaluations for measuring diagnosis utility and those effects. Conclusions : With thise results, I hope that several researchers could consider scope and subject when they submit articles for Korean Journal of Acupuncture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.175-182
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• 2021

To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) a literature review was conducted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where acupuncture was used as an intervention for patients diagnosed with SIS. Relevant clinical studies (N = 181) were retrieved from several databases based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and the interventions and results were analyzed. Six RCTs were selected to review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In all 6 studies, the acupuncture treatment group showed significant positive changes in indicators evaluating pain, disability, and quality of life. A significant decrease in the evaluation indicators (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, numeric rating scale, Visual Analogue Scale, Constant Murley Shoulder Assessment Score, patient's global assessment, and doctor's global assessment) and a significant increase in the questionnaire scores (UCLA, AL-score, EuroQol 5 Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire, and disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand) were observed. In addition, 1 study showed similar improvements in pain and quality of life measures in the acupuncture group and corticosteroid injection group. No major side effects were reported. Acupuncture may be an effective and safe treatment for SIS however, further RCTs are required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.214-237
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• 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture and electroacupuncture for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). We searched 11 databases to find randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2018 and January 2023 that used acupuncture and electroacupuncture to treat patients with TMD. We performed a meta-analysis of 18 RCTs involving 1,109 patients. Nine studies reported that the treatment and control groups showed improvement in the evaluation index post-treatment. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the treatment groups receiving acupuncture combined with manual therapy had significantly improved visual analog scale score and dysfunction index than the control groups receiving manual therapy. Moreover, the treatment groups receiving acupuncture combined with Western medicine had statistically improved maximum mouth opening than the control groups using Western medicine. In conclusion, acupuncture and electroacupuncture have clinical effects on TMD patients. Given that 11 studies were obtained from the Chinese database, a regional bias would be considered. Furthermore, the included studies had high a risk of bias in terms of randomization, concealment, and blinding. Further studies are required to correct these limitations.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.216-223
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• 2012

Objectives : Electroacupuncture is widely used because of its diverse curative influence. However, its electrical safety is not guaranteed when applied on the human body. Therefore, in this study, we did research on the corrosiveness of electroacupuncture when applied on the body fluid. Methods : We did research using acupuncture needles which were made of STS304 or STS316 and which were coated or not coated in silicone. They were 0.25 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length. We immersed them to the depth of about 1cm in Hank's Solution and gave a stimulus in 120 Hz for 60 minutes. Then, we measured the pH of Hank's solution and mass of needles and observed their shape. Results : Acupuncture needles which were made of STS304 corroded more easily than those which were made of STS316 when they were applied on the human body. Acupuncture needles which were coated in silicone corroded much more easily than those which were not coated in silicone when they were applied on the body fluid. Conclusions : In this study, we did research on the corrosiveness of electroacupuncture when it is applied on the body fluid using several acupuncture needles. We made a conclusion that when acupuncture needles were applied on the body fluid, the coated one made of STS304 corrodes more easily than the uncoated one made of STS316. We hope that additional further researches on the effect of the corrosiveness of an acupuncture needle will be carried out.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.187-197
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess the reproducibility of measurement of facial skin furrows using a facial skin photographing system. Methods : Subjects were 19 patients who visited the department of acupuncture and moxsibustion, at the hospital of Oriental medical college, at Daegu Haany University for the cosmetic acupuncture treatment during August 2007 to 31th August 2007. The facial skin photograph of each participant was analyzed a total of six times in two days using DM-3(a facial skin photographing system). The square and counts of skin furrows were also measured for each one. As the statistical method, Pearson's correlation coefficient and repeated measured ANOVA were used. Results : The Pearson's correlation coefficient, it showed significantly high correlation in both the square and count of skin furrows for each analysis time. Repeated measured ANOVA showed no significant differences among analyses in both square and count of skin furrows. Conclusions : This study reveales that the measurement of the count and square of facial skin furrows by facial skin photograph analysis has high reproducibility. DM-3(a facial skin photographing system) can be useful for the evaluation of facial skin furrows in facial cosmetic acupuncture.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.39-47
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine the clinical effects of thread embedding acupuncture on lumbar herniated intervertebral disc patients. Methods : This is a retrospective study based on clinical charts. Despite the treatments of acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapy during admission period, 10 lumbar herniated intervertebral disc patients who had shown few improvements in their symptoms were selected as subjects. Thread embedding acupuncture was conducted to reduce patient pain. Patient progress was categorized into three periods based on when the embedding procedure performed. Verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and a 5 step evaluation scale for satisfaction were used to analyze the outcome. Results : Regarding comparison of VNRS improvement rate, both 3 and 6 days after embedding progress showed significant difference compared to before embedding progress. ODI improvement rate showed significant difference only 6 days after embedding progress. Patients' satisfaction with treatment had increased by several degrees. Conclusion : Thread embedding acupuncture for lumbar herniated intervertebral disc patients may be effective in reducing pain and improving their quality of life.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.238-244
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• 2023

Background: Occipital neuralgia (ON) is an established risk factor for headaches in the posterior cervical region. Several conservative treatments by nerve decompression and pain relief are available for ON, but these treatments have limitations. Acupuncture treatment, which is known to demonstrate analgesic effects, involves various stimulation methods, and several studies have reported their clinical benefit. No recent systematic review (SR) has compared each acupuncture type for ON treatment. Thus, this SR aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of each acupuncture type for treating ON. Methods: We will identify relevant studies using electronic databases, including EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), Korean Medical Database, KoreaMed, and National Digital Science Library (NDSL) from the inception until August 2023. The primary outcome will include the numerical change of pain symptoms (visual analog scale and numerical rating scale) and effective rate. Safety and secondary outcomes will include adverse events and quality of life. We will compare the conservative treatment with the acupuncture treatment using network meta-analysis. The Cochrane Collaboration "risk of bias" tools will be used to assess the quality of included trials. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation will be used to examine the evidence level. Conclusion: This study will provide clinical evidence of several acupuncture types for ON and help clinicians decide on the best.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.45-55
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• 2020

Objectives : The objective of this study is to review the Trend of clinical trials conducted with the acupuncture treatment on Atopic Dermatitis. Methods : Through 4 foreign online databases(PubMed, Cochrane library, EMBASE, CNKI) and 3 domestic online databases(NDSL, RISS, OASIS), we searched for clinical studies performed acupuncture treatment for Atopic Dermatitis from 2010 to December 2019. Only randomized controlled trials(RCT) was selected and anlayzed according to the research method. Results : A total 4 studies were reviewed. LI11, ST36, SP10 were most frequently used acupoints in acupuncture treatment. Among the evaluation indexes, SCORAD, VAS, DLQI were used most. In most of the 4 studies, acupuncture treatment showed significant therapeutic effects. Conclusions : These results suggest that it is necessary to develop more detailed standards about Acupuncture treatment method as the method of acupuncture is getting more diverse, and objective tools are needed in evaluating Atopic Dermatitis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.119-130
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• 2019

This study analyzed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and case studies investigating Chuna manual therapy and variations of this term, for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. On June $15^{th}$, 2019, 6 online databases were used to retrieve studies. A total of 527 articles were retrieved, and 14 RCTs and 20 case studies were selected for review. Typically, the frequency of Chuna therapy was 1-2 times/week. The most common period of treatment was 12 months in RCTs and 3-6 months in case studies. Cobb's angle was the most frequent evaluation index used (11 RCTs and 20 case studies). In control groups, brace treatment was used in 8 RCTs. In 6 RCTs and 20 case studies, Cobb's angle significantly decreased after Chuna therapy, and in 4 RCTs, Chuna therapy was as effective as brace treatment, with no significant difference between groups. Adverse events were not reported except for minor reactions in only 3 case studies. This review suggested that Chuna therapy for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was more advantageous than and as effective as brace treatment in most cases, although the risk of bias in 13 RCTs was unclear.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.182-185
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• 2019

Dural ectasia is defined as ballooning or expansion of the dural sac surrounding the spinal cord. This report describes a rare case of low back pain and sciatica, suspected as being dural ectasia. The patient was hospitalized for 45 days, and underwent integrative Korean medical treatment, including pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, herbal medicine, Chuna therapy, cupping therapy, and physiotherapy. The effect of the treatment was evaluated using the numerical rating scale, Oswestry disability index, European quality of life 5 dimensions, and subjective symptoms. After inpatient treatment, the pain the patient experienced was significantly reduced and the evaluation indices improved. This case report suggested that integrative Korean medical treatment could be an effective therapeutic choice for low back pain and sciatica, with dural ectasia. Further clinical studies are needed to support this observation.