• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.405-412
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• 2002

The principle of Acupuncture effect on meridians is what physical stimulation does on general physiology so that is gets into new equilibrium from the fallen function state of human body. However, in western medicine, it is generally accepted that the action passageway of various kinds stimulation has been regarded as nerve-endocrine-immune system. Acupuncture effect has been regarded any action for all meridians as a respones by the stimulation. Western medicine doesn's accept treatment for transmission of the bio-energy. In this paper, we compared change of electric potential when an acupuncturist's bio-energy is passed on and when is not. As a result of clinics, the acupuncture effect is different as acupuncture method, when an acupuncturist's bio-energy is passed on the meridian and it isn's. It implies that acupuncture effect can complicately respond by simple acupuncture stimulus and transmission of bio-energy, on same meridian. We could confirm the relationship between an acupuncturist's energy transmission and acupuncture effect. Therefore, we could diagnosis the state of meridian using change of electric potential on the same meridian.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.778-786
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was to investigate the short time effect of caffeine on heart rate variability(HRV) and the effect of Neiguan(PC6) acupuncture stimulation on HRV. Methods : 27 healthy adult volunteers were randomly allocated to two groups: Neiguan group (N=13) or placebo group (N=14). The study was carried out under a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial method. Each group orally received the same tablets with 200 mg caffeine. After 1 hour, acupuncture was applied to the Neiguan(PC6) points for the Neiguan group, and for the placebo group was applied to a non-acupuncture point. Both groups were estimated with HRV 3 times, before and after caffeine ingestion, 20 minutes after acupuncture stimulation. Results : After taking caffeine, pulse rate, mean-HRV, and pNN50(the proportion derived by dividing NN50 by the total number of NN intervals) decreased, SDNN(standard deviation of all normal-to-normal (NN) intervals), RMSSD (the root square of successive differences), TP log, HF(high frequency), and HRV index was increased. There were significant changes to the autonomic nervous system after taking caffeine. There were no significant differences between the two groups after acupuncture at Neiguan. Conclusion : Caffeine could induce general activation of the autonomic nervous system. Neiguan acupuncture stimulation may not have significant influence on the autonomic nervous system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.215-224
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• 2001

Objcetive : Neuropathic pain sometimes arises from a partial peripheral nerve injury. This kind of pain is usually accompanied by spontaneous burning pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. It has been well known that acupuncture is effective to the pain control from ancient time in Asia. However, it is not clear whether acupuncture can control neuropathic pain. The aim of the present study is to examine if acupuncture stimulation may be effective to the mechanical allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods : To produce neuropathic pain, under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, the right superior caudal trunk was resected between the S3 and S4 spinal nerves. After the neuropathic surgery, we examined if the animals exhibited the behavioral signs of mechanical allodynia. The mechanical allodynia was assessed by stimulating the tail with von Frey hair (bending force : 2.0g). three or 6 weeks after the neuropathic surgery, acupuncture stimulation was delivered to Houxi (SI 3) as the following parameters (2HZ frequency, 0.07mA intensity and 3msec duration) for 30 minutes. Results : The stimulation of Houxi (SI 3) acupoint relieved the behavioral signs of mechanical allodynia. Conclusion : Our results suggest that acupuncture can control the mechanical allodynia of neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.75-85
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• 2012

Objectives : Indirect moxibustion is one of the thermotherapy in Korean medicine and buffer of ginger and mankshood slice are common materials to be used. However it is difficult to control the power of thermal stimulation and the stimulation is greatly influenced by the characteristic of buffer. So we research on the buffer characteristic of indirect moxibustion according to the thickness, diameter and water content changes. Methods : We used thermocouples to measure temperature from surface to depth of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14mm on tissue model and calculated peak temperature($^{\circ}C$). The data were analyzed with student t-test and one-way ANOVA(p<0.05). Results : 1. The peak temperature of indirect moxibustion with ginger were determined by thickness of ginger slice and temperature changes according to the thickness at intervals of 1mm but according to the diameter at intervals of 4mm. 2. The peak temperature of indirect moxibustion with mankshood were determined by thickness of mankshood slice also. The peak temperature of mankshood moxibustion was higher than that of ginger moxibustion. 3. In this study, 2mm-thick-ginger slice and 3mm-thick-mankshood slice were suitable for indirect moxibustion. Variation in the thickness of which is more efficient to control the power of thermal stimulation on indirect moxibustion. 4. The more water loss we got on ginger slice, the higher peak temperature we measured at the surface of moxibustion. But the thermal stimulation was not conducted more than 2mm in the depth. 5. The thickness and water content of buffer are important in indirect moxibustion. Conclusions : The temperature of indirect moxibustion depends on the thickness of buffer than the diameter of it. Therefore, it is more efficient according to the thickness of buffer so that we control the power of thermal stimulation. And water content of buffer is one of the important factor in indirect moxibustion.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.94-109
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• 2005

Objectives: This paper investigated the effects of 8 Constitution Acupuncture on Heart Rate Variability(HRV) and is intended to find out 8 Constitutional difference on Autonomous Function after 8 Constitution Acupuncture stimulation. Methods: The subjects were comprised of 42 volunteers(11 men and 31 women). The volunteers had acupunctured by 8 Constitution Acupuncture Therapy. HRV and Mean Heart Rate(MHR) were measured by TAS9v2.0(IEMBIO & Saerom, Korea) on two times: before and immediately after acupuncture stimulation. The SPSS 13.0 for windows was used for statistical analysis: Mann-Whitney U-test, Paired Samples T -test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to verify the results. Results: 1. There was no statistically significant difference on HRV and MHR between Sympathicotonia and Vagotonia before acupuncture. 2. In the whole subject, immediately after acupuncture stimulation, MHR showed a significant decrease(p<0.01) and Ln(TP), Ln(LF) and Ln(HF) showed a significant increase(p<0.05). But there was no significant difference in LHR. 3. Immediately after acupuncture stimulation, MHR showed a significant decrease and Ln(TP), Ln(HF), showed a significant increase in Pulmotonia(p<0.05), Ln(TP) showed a significant increase in Pancretonia(p<0.05),MHR showed a significant decrease and Ln(TP) showed a significant increase in Hepatonia(p<0.05), and MHR showed a significant decrease and Ln(TP), Ln(HF), showed a significant increase in cholecystonia(p<0.05). But there were no significant difference on HRV and MHR in Colonotonia and vesicotonia. Conclusion: The results suggest that 8 Constitution Acupuncture is associated with changed activity in sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Further study is needed for investigating the effects of 8 Constitution Acupuncture on HRV and autonomic nervous system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.123-131
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of these case is to observe the effect of prescription of liver supplementation on essential tremor patient who was operated DBS. Methods : The patient was treated by prescription of liver supplementation. The improvement of patient was judged by tremor scale and VAS(visual analog scale). Results : After treatment patient's tremor scale grade and VAS score were generally decreased. Conclusions : The prescription of liver supplementation might be an effective method to treat the essential tremor patient who was operated DBS.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2000

This study has been carried out to understand histochemical and ultrastructural changes by acupuncture stimulation at the acupoint of the Zusanli (St. 36) in the rat. A lot of mast cells are observed in the peripheral of the hole with a sparrow-pecking and twistin -needle manipulation to the acupoint Zusanli for induction of 'Qi'. These cells contained a lot of granules with varied electron density and exocytosis granules were observed near the mast cell. H-bands of the muscle fiber that situated near the hole were shortened. It is assumed that these muscles are contracted by acupuncture stimulation. These results imply that functional relationship between mast cells in the dermis and Qi-sensation induced by acupuncture plays an important role on the specific receptor response to the mechanical stimulation.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.525-536
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electrical anesthesia induced by non-acupuncture point stimulation on inhibition of amplitude of digastric EMG evoked by noxious electrical stimuli in teeth and gingiva. Experiments were performed with dogs anesthetized with intraperitoneal pentobarbital sodium in an initial dose of 30mg/kg. Maintenance doses of 4.0ml/hour were given through a cannula in the femoral vein using a constant infusion pump. Anterior belly of digastric muscle was exposed and a pair of 0.1mm wire electrodes were inserted for E.M.G. recording. Bipolar electrodes were inserted into the labial and lingual surface of upper canine and the labial area of upper gingiva. Noxious stimuli were delivered to the tooth and gingiva through those electrodes by electric stimulator. Non-acupuncture point stimulation of 2Hz was delivered bilaterally to the femoral area. Amplitudes of digastric E.M.G. were measured from the oscilloscope and the monitor connected to amplifier at different intensities of electronic anesthesia of 1 volt, 4 volt and 10 volt. The inhibited rate of the amplitudes of digastric E.M.G. were analysed statistically with paired t-test. The following results were obtained : 1. Non-acupuncture point stimulation with intensities of 1 volt, 4 volt and 10 volt showed the inhibitory effect on pain of 15%, 25% and 16% in teeth and 15%, 18% and 12% in gingiva respectively 2. In tooth, statistical significance was observed between control and each group. In gingiva, there was statistical significance between control and group 1, 2 except group 3 From these results, low frequency electrical stimulation of non-acupuncture point resulted in reducing of dental and gingival pain, it could be used as adjunct to other pain control methods.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2000

Spasticity, an abnormal increase in resting muscle tone, is one of the most common symptoms of stroke, and its management is becoming a major issue in rehabilitation. The aims of this study are to determine the effects of electroacupuncture(EA), TENS and neuromuscular electric stimulation(NMES) on spasticity, as well as the possibility of tissue comliance method as a spasticity scale. 45 stroke patients participated in a study of the effects on hemiplegic spasticity of EA, TENS and NMES. Spasticity was measured by modified Ashworth scale on the upper extremity and tissue compliance measurement, penetration mm/kg, on Susamni(LI10) area at just before and after stimulation, and 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 24 hours after stimulation. The acupuncture points were applied to Kokchi(LI11), Susamni(LI10), Hapkok(LI4) and Oegwan(TE5) of the affected limb. The electrodes were placed unilaterally on LI11 to LI10 and TE5 to LI4. EA with biphasic wave, 60Hz, 0.4 msec pulse duration and low intensity was applied continuously for 20 minutes. TENS with high frequency, low intensity was applied. NMES was applied with spasticity program for 20 minutes. Each electric stimulation was done on extensor muscles group of forearm for 20 minutes. EA and NMES groups were found to produce a statistically significant decrease(p〈0.05) of spasticity and these effects lasted up to 30 minutes after stimulation. There was no definite correlation between the modified Ashworth scale and tissue compliance measurement. But tissure compliance method was found to be possible as a quantitative measurement on spasticity. There was no significant correlation between the effects of EA and NMES and the characteristics of patient, but significant correlation between the effects of EA and NMES and the modified Ashworth scale.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.51-62
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• 2004

Objective: To investigate the analgesic effect and its serotonergic mechanism, especially related with 5-HTI and 5-HT2 receptor, of electroacupuncture(EA) in the rat model of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA). Methods : Immunization of male Sprague-Dawley rats with bovine type II (C II) collagen emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant, followed by a booster injection 14 days later, leads to development of arthritis in more than 70% of rats by 21 days postinjection. After three weeks of first immunization, EA stimulation(2 Hz, 0.07 mA, 0.3 ms) was delivered into Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) for 30 minutes. Analgesic effect was evaluated by tail flick latency(TFL). We compared the analgesic effect of EA with TFLs between pretreatment of normal saline and pretreatment of spiroxatrine (5-HT1 receptor antagonist, 1mg/kg, intraperitoneal) and spiperone (5-HT2 receptor antagonist, 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in CIA. Results : 1. TFLs were gradually decreased in CIA as increasing severity of arthritis. 2. Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA stimulation in CIA increased TFLs and the effect lasted for 60 minutes. 3. Increased TFLs with Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA stimulation were inhibited by pretreatment of spiroxatrine and spiperone in CIA. Conclusions : Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA showed analgesic effects in CIA The analgesic effects of Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA were inhibited by spiroxatrine and spiperone pretreatment. These observations suggest that 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 serotonergic receptor, which involve the release of serotonin neurotransmitter, play an important roles in analgesic mechanism of EA stimulation.