• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.382-389
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• 2022

Objectives: The Korean Industrial Standard (KS) for sterile acupuncture needles was established in 2009 based on research on the quality control of acupuncture needles. We aimed to determine the quality of acupuncture needles available in South Korea in 2021 by examining their surface condition and chemical composition using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Methods: In South Korea, there are 23 brands of acupuncture needles, and we examined 10-15 needles from each brand, resulting in a total of 285 needles. The microstructures of the needles were assessed by SEM. Using SEM images, we evaluated the acupuncture needle tips for the following defects/aspects: scratches, lumps, detached coating, bent tip, and tip sharpness. EDS was used to determine the chemical composition of the selected acupuncture needles. Results: Overall, 88.4% of 285 needles were found to have at least one type of abnormality. The most frequently observed abnormalities were scratches and dents on the surface (68.1%), followed by detached coating (63.2%), and lumps (61.8%); blunt tips were observed in about 24% of them. Of 252 needles with at least one defect, 86.9% had two or more types of defects. The ratio of the number of needles with any defect to that of needles without any defect varied among brands, ranging from 50% to 100%. Regarding foreign materials, higher proportions of Si and O were observed on the needles, indicating incomplete or detached silicone coating. Conclusion: The quality of acupuncture needles varied among brands, suggesting that further improvements can be made through various inspection methods.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 2010

Objectives : Quality control of the needle tips and prevention of pollutions are important factor for safe and effective acupuncture treatment. Ear acupuncture needle is made by 3 companies in Korea, and used to treat for obesity or smoking in clinic frequently, but the Korean industrial Standard is proposed most recently. In spite of the importance, there has been little study about that. Moreover, there was no study about ear acupuncture needle. Methods : We investigated the current condition of needle shape and pollution about the tips and body of the ear acupuncture needle under the stereoscopic microscope. Samples are selected 100 pieces from 300 pieces randomly in each company. Results : The substandard needles are classified into four groups and counted 1. Normal condition (55.3%), 2. Scratch on the surface (14.0%), 3. Malformation of tips (19.3%), 4. Pollution of body (4.3%), 5. Multiple Substandard (7.0%). In the case of including type 2 as a standard needle, normal rate of A company was 81% when B was 76%, and C was 51%. Conclusion : The substandard ear acupuncture needles can induce local side effects such as needling pain or itching. Furthermore, it can disturb the proper effect of acupuncture treatment. We hope that this study can help to improvequality of ear acupuncture and reduce substandard rate for safe and effective ear acupuncture treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.97-102
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• 2011

Meridian Research Center, Division of Standard Research, Keora Institute of Oriental Medicine Objectives : Ear acupuncture needle is used to treat smoking, drug abusing, alcoholism frequently over time stability of ear acupuncture needle is important factor for safe acupuncture treatment. In spite of the importance, there has been few study about the quality of disposable acupuncture needle tip - using scanning electron microscope (SEM) in 2002, 2003. Moreover, there was no study about ear acupuncture needle. Methods : The three ear acupuncture needle, made in China, Japan, Korea was chosen. We used Hank's solution at the 38$^{\circ}C$ as a phantom tissue liquid. Except for the control group, five groups of needles are soused one to five days. Surface corrosion was observed using the SEM compared with control group. Results : There was no particular corrosion in all groups of ear acupuncture needles compared with the control group. Conclusions : All of the ear acupunctures used in this study are stable in body fluids at least 5 days.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2023

Background: Previous studies have investigated technology-aided needling training systems for acupuncture on phantom models using various measurement techniques. In this study, we developed and validated a vision-based needling training system (noncontact measurement) and compared its training effectiveness with that of the traditional training method. Methods: Needle displacements during manipulation were analyzed using OpenCV to derive three parameters, i.e., needle insertion speed, needle insertion angle (needle tip direction), and needle insertion length. The system was validated in a laboratory setting and a needling training course. The performances of the novices (students) before and after training were compared with the experts. The technology-aided training method was also compared with the traditional training method. Results: Before the training, a significant difference in needle insertion speed was found between experts and novices. After the training, the novices approached the speed of the experts. Both training methods could improve the insertion speed of the novices after 10 training sessions. However, the technology-aided training group already showed improvement after five training sessions. Students and teachers showed positive attitudes toward the system. Conclusion: The results suggest that the technology-aided method using computer vision has similar training effectiveness to the traditional one and can potentially be used to speed up needling training.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.113-119
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• 2000

Objectives : Wrist ganglion is one of the most common diseases on the wrist joint. So far acupuncture, medication, drainage and local anesthetic excision therapy have been used for this disease, but the development of more effective treatment method is being expected because of frequent recurrence and side effect. Considered that most ganglion is polycystic, on the basis of classic centro-square acupuncture, newly transformed centro-square acupuncture was applied to this report. Methods : All the patients with wrist ganglion was divided into two groups. Newly transformed centro-square acupuncture was app(ied to one group composed of 11 patients and classic centro-square acupuncture to the other group with 19 patients. Classic centro-square acupuncture is made up of slanting and straight insertion. the former is a method that tips of 4 needles are inserted from the outersurface of wrist ganglion oriented to the center of the ganglion, the latter is that tip of one needle is inserted on the center of the ganglion straightly. In the newly transformed centro-square acupuncture, straight insertion of dry needle was taken place of by syringe needle in order to drain phlegm. In this report, classic and newly transformed centro-square acupuncture were used somewhat differently from original ones. Moxibustion was applied after removing all the needles. In newly transformed centro-square acupuncture, moxibustion was also applied after drainage of phlegm and slanting insertion. Results : 1. Wrist ganglion was frequently developed around the acupoint of Tae-Yeon(Tai Yuan, LU9) and Yang-Ji(Yang Chi, TE4) and the difference between occurrence of development on the left and right hand had no significancy. 2. The mean number of treatment for recovery : The newly transformed centro-square acupuncture had fewer treatment than classic one. 3. The newly transformed centro-square acupuncture was more effective than classic one. 4. As a result of following up 6 to 72 months after wrist ganglion had been eliminated, there was no recurrence. Conclusion : In the treatment of wrist ganglion, newly transformed centro-square acupuncture can be regarded as more useful method in the clinical practice, because it has comparatiely shorter duration of treatment and is more effective.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.145-160
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• 2003

Objective : This study was designed to find out whether placebo auricular acupuncture is able to be constituted as an appropriate control group for needle insertion to Korean. Methods : We performed a randomized controlled, single-blind study(n=48) comparing subjective evaluations of needles insertion and avoidance of needles insertion. Both ears were needled concurrently, one real acupuncture(needle insertion) and the other placebo acupuncture(avoidance of needle insertion with blunt tip). Subjects then completed a questionnaire rating the intensity of five sensations in each ear, and also attempted to identity which ear received placebo and which ear received real acupuncture. Results : As for the effects of real and placebo acupuncture on each item(Warmth, Fullness, Pain, Activity, Radiating), real acupuncture was significantly warmer, fuller, more painful than placebo acupuncture. In particular, the real acupuncture only in experienced acupuncture recipients was significantly warmer, fuller, more painful than placebo acupuncture. About the ability to differentiate real and placebo acupuncture, 54.2 percent correctly identified which ear received real acupuncture and which ear received placebo acupuncture. However, the ability to differentiate real and placebo acupuncture for naive and experienced acupuncture recipients was not significantly different. Conclusions : Most of the subjects(Korean) identified which ear received placebo and which ear received real acupuncture. We found that this placebo auricular acupuncture is not able to be applied to Korean, in particular for experienced acupuncture recipients. Further study is needed for new placebo auricular acupuncture or racial difference between American.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.5.1-5
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• 1981

We have recently removed five interesting foreign bodies successfully. Case 1. A broken tracheostomy outer cannular tube in the right main bronchus of a 7 year old boy. Case 2. An acupuncture needle in the trachea of a fifty-one year old man. Case 3. A fish hook with thread in the second isthmus of esophagus of a 10 month old girl. Case 4. An opened safety pin (sharp point toward cephalad) in the third isthmus of esophagus of a sixteen year old boy. Case 5. A big lead bullet which went through soft tissue below right mastoid tip and lodged at the mid-point between right mastoid process and foramen magnum(skull base) of a twenty year old boy, was removed surgically uneventfully.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1157-1176
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• 2003

The following conclusions are induced from a study on the acupuncture therapy depending on hyungsang of the persons. The study is made on the basis of 'Internal classic (內經)& and &Clinical Lectures by Dr. Jeesan&. The acupuncture originated from the treatment of spasm with numbness in the southern area. The acupuncture is basically a remedy for the exterior disease of meridian but also it can be a cure for the interior disease of Jang and obstinate disease with accurate method. Three mechanisms of acupuncture are described in 'Internal classic'. The first is to make meridian circulate smoothly. The second is to regulate Ki and Hyul. The third is to regulate points through which the meridian-Ki goes in and out smoothly or adversely. There are two ways of acupuncture in 'Internal classic'. One is based on pulse and symptom and the other on the Hyungsang. The former is more generally used therapy, to which depletion method, Asi point method(阿是穴 療法), Inyoung-kigu pulse comparison method (人迎氣口脈法) and method depending on jang-bu disease belong. Acupuncture is done on Su points(輸穴) and back-su point(背兪穴) in case of jang-disease. In case of bu-disease, the treatment is done on Hap points(合穴) and Mo-points(募穴). The latter includes two methods; one according to invariable Hyungsang. And the other to variable Hyungsang. The method of acupuncture according to invariable Hyungsang usually selects Won-points(原穴). Different Hyungsang requires different method of acupuncture; In case of Dam type, the acupuncture is mainly practiced on four-Kwan points with reinforcing and reducing methods achieved by the direction of the needle tip pointing to. In case of Bangkwang type, the acupuncture is usually done on Jungwan(中脘) and Poongyung(豊隆) with reinforcing and reducing methods by means of respiration. In case of female, more effective are the acupoints on the right and lateral parts of the body selected on the basis of five su-points of the twelve meridians matching the heavenly stems and earthly branches. In case of male, more effective are the acupoints on the left, front and rear parts of the eight extra meridians. In case of acupuncture to the person with Hyungsang of five jang and six bu, each person's intrinsic Hyung, color, pulse, must be observed. Because symptoms of jang-bu disease also must be checked up. Acupuncture is done on the Won-points of the meridians related to the jang and bu where the disease starts. The disease of five jang is so obstinate that it requires both of medication and acupuncture for a long time. In case of acupuncture to the person with Hyungsang of animal types, diagnosis is made on the basis of shape, temper, function and color. And the treatment is given on the Won-points of corresponding exterior and interior meridians. For the fish type, the acupuncture is done on the kidney meridian of foot-soyin and the urinary bladder of foot-taiyang. For the bird type, on the heart meridian of hand-soyin, the pericardium meridian of hand-gualyin, and the small intestine meridian of hand-taiyang For the deer type, on the liver meridian of foot-gualyin and the gallbladder meridian of foot-soyang. For the turtle type, on the lung meridian of hand-taiyin and the large intestine meridian of hand-yangmyung.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.102-104
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to document the histology of canine acupoints. Acupunctural needles were inserted by 0.5 to 1 cm depth into acupoints Nei-guan (Inner pass, PC06), Gan-shu (Liver Association Point, BL18), Shen-shu (Kidney Association Point, BL23) and Pangguang-shu (Bladder Association Point, BL28) in 4 dogs, and the tissues around the acupoints were examined. Light microscopy was used to observe the surrounding structures of each point. Nerve fibres, small vessels and muscle spindles were found around the tip of the needle in every case, although they occurred not so often at nonacupoint in nearby region or nonacupoint in the areas, such as skin, subcutaneous tissue and muscle. Therefore, it is suggested that nerve fibres, small vessels and muscle spindles may be potential acupoint receptors.