• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.545-558
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• 2000

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of low power GaAsAl laser on Fos expression in the spinal cord induced by noxious mechanical stimulation. Noxious mechanical stimulation was applied to the right hind paw following 30min of low power laser treatment using different intensity and treatment point and the resulting Fos expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn was compared to that obtained in rats exposed only to the noxious mechanical stimulation. The results were summarized as follows: 1. In intact control rats, only a few Fos like immunoreactive(Fos-IR) neurons were evident in the lumbar spinal cord dorsal horn. Similarly, following prolonged inhalation anesthesia, Fos-IR neurons were absent in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord. In animals treated with noxious mechanical stimulation, neurons with nuclei exhibiting Fos immunostaining were distributied mainly in the medial half of ipsilateral laminae I-V at lumbar segments L3-5. These findings directly indicated that prolonged anesthesia used in this study did not affect the Fos expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn of intact animals and noxious mechanical stimulation treated animals. 2. In acupoint treated animals, 10mW of laser stimulation, not 3mW intensity, significantly reduced the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons in the spinal dorsal horn induced by noxious mechanical stimulation(P<.01). However, the supressive effect of low power laser stimulatin was not observed in 3m Wand 10m W of laser stimulation into non-acupoint. These data indicate that 10mW of low power laser stimulation into acupoint is capable of inhibiting the expression of Fos in the dorsal horn induced by noxious mechanical stimulation. In conclusion, these findings raise the possibility that low power laser stimulation into acupoint may be a promising alternative medicine therapy for the mechanical stimulation induced pain in the clinical field.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1005-1013
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• 2001

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of low power GaAlAs laser on spinal Fos expression related to the anti-nociceptive effect of laser stimulation. Low power GaAlAs laser was applied to either acupoint or non-acupoint for 2 hour under light inhalation anesthesia. Spinal Fos expression in the dorsal horn was compared to that obtained in inhalation anesthesia control group. Furthermore, we analyzed the effect of the local treatment of lidocaine on the spinal Fos expression evoked by low power GaAlAs laser stimulation. The results were summarized as follows: 1. In the normal animals, only a few Fos like immunoreactive(Fos-IR) neurons were evident in the lumbar spinal cord dorsal horn. Similarly, following prolonged inhalation anesthesia, Fos-IR neurons were absent in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord. In animals treated with laser stimulation, Fos immunoreactive neurons were increased mainly in the medial half of ipsilateral laminae I-III at lumbar segments L3-5. These findings directly indicated that prolonged anesthesia used in this study did not affect the Fos expression in the spinal cord dorsal horn of intact animals and low power laser stimulation dramatically produced Fos expression in the spinal cord laminae that are related to the anti-nociceptive effect of laser stimulation. 2. In acupoint stimulated animals, 10mW of laser stimulation, not 3mW and 6mW intensity, significantly increased the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons in the spinal dorsal horn(p<0.05). However, laser stimulation on acupoint more dramatically increased the number of Fos immunoreactive neurons in the spinal cord rather than laser stimulatin on non acupoint. These result suggested that laser stimulatin on acupoint was more effective treatment to activate the spinal neuron than non acupoint stimulation. 3. The local treatment of lidocaine totally suppressed the activity of spinal neurons that were induced by lower power 1aser stimulation. These data indicated that the anti-nociceptive effect of laser stimulation was absolutely dependent upon the peripheral nerve activity in the stimulated location. In conclusion, these data indicate that 10mW of low power laser stimulation into acupoint is capable of inducing the spinal Fos expression in the dorsal horn related to the anti-nociceptive effect of laser stimulation, Furthermore, the induction of spinal Fos expression was totally related to the peripheral nerve activity in the laser stimulated area.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.227-229
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• 2017

Fibrosis of skeletal muscle following acupuncture is an iatrogenic disorder. The present case illustrates a patient with a unilateral fibrotic formation on a thumb muscle after acupuncture injection therapy with red sage. The patient in the present case was a counter-terrorism police officer with right-handedness; he noted a palpable nodule three months after injection therapy at his left first dorsal interosseous in which the acupuncture point LI4 (He Gu) is located. He also found a reduction in the strength of his left pinch grip that noticeably affected his left handgun marksmanship. However, being ambidextrous in single-hand pistol shooting is an essential requirement for counter-terrorism police officers. Based on the patient's medical history and claims, no underlying disease or trauma was found to be associated with his current complaint. During physical examination, a fibrotic formation in his left first dorsal interosseous muscle was visualized by using diagnostic ultrasound; also, as confirmed with dynamometry, the strength of his left pinch grip was significantly lower than that of the right counterpart. Because acupuncture injection therapy has three components, antiseptic practices, the mechanical action of syringe insertion, and the pharmacological effect of the sterile herb extract, any one of the components may have contributed to the present adverse event. The first dorsal interosseous muscle is small in dimension and rather vascular; thus, it is not an ideal site for intramuscular injection. When a clinician needs to treat a patient by performing acupuncture at the LI4 acupoint and injecting a herbal extract simultaneously, the clinician should only mechanically stimulate the LI4 acupoint while injecting the herbal medicine into the LI14 (Bi Noe) acupoint on the same meridian, the LI14 acupoint being located in the distal portion of the deltoid muscle and being fairly close to the universally agreed upon site on the upper arm for safe administration of an injection.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.217-226
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• 2011

The aim of this study is to identify central neural pathway of neurons following the projection to the large intestine and Hapgok(LI4) which is Won acupoint of the large intestine meridian of hand-yangmyeong. In this experiment, Bartha's strain of pseudorabies virus was used to trace central localization of neurons related with large intestine and acupoint(LI4) which has been known to be able to regulate intestinal function. The animals were divided into 3 groups: group 1, injected into the large intestine; group 2, injected into the acupoint(LI4); group 3, injected into the acupoint(LI4) after severing the radial, ulnar, median nerve. After four days survival of rats, PRV labeled neurons were identified in the spinal cord and brain by immunohistochemical method. First-order PRV labeled neurons following the projection to large intestine, acupoint(LI4) and acupoint(LI4) after cutting nerve were found in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal cord. Commonly labeled neurons were labeled in the lumbosacral spinal cord and thoracic spinal cord. They were found in lamina V- X, intermediomedial nucleus and dorsal column area. The area of sensory neurons projecting was L5-S2 spinal ganglia and T12-L1 spinal ganglia, respectively. In the brainstem, the neurons were labeled most evidently and consistently in the nucleus tractus solitarius, area postrema, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus nerve, reticular nucleus, raphe nuclei(obscurus, magnus and pallidus), C3 adrenalin cells, parapyramidal area(lateral paragigantocellular nucleus), locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus nucleus, A5 cell group, periaqueductal gray matter. In the diencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were marked mostly in the arcuate nucleus and median eminence. These results suggest that overlapped CNS locations are related with autonomic nuclei which regulate the functions of large intestine-related organs and it was revealed by tracing PRV labeled neurons projecting large intestine and related acupoint(LI4).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.176-188
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• 2002

Objective : Sono-acupoint (SA) therapy is a new therapeutic technique that combined with acupuncture points, herbal medicine and ultrasound therapy. This study was carried out to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of sono-acupoint therapy. Methods : We performed the tail-flick test with normal rats to examine the tail-flick latency (TFL), and the Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model to examine the edema, skin temperature and serum concentration of c-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor (RF). Herbal SA (HSA) treatment was performed at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) with the hanbang-gel made of several selected herbal drugs in Sprague-Dawley rats (male, $250{\pm}30g$). General SA (GSA) treatment was performed at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) with the gel used in ultrasound therapy. In arthritis rat model, Freund's adjuvant (50mg/ml) was injected in dorsal part of right foot, and these treatments were performed after 15 days. Results : TFL was lengthened after SA treatments. Skin temperature and RF concentration that were the evidence of arthritis in rats were decreased by HSA treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion : These results indicate that HSA has the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in rats, and further developments will produce the advance of this new therapeutic skill.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.146-155
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Crataegi Fructus water extract(CFWE) on hair growth in an alopecia model of C57BL/6N mice and human dermal papilla cells(hDPCs). Methods : Six-week old mice were depilated and separated in 3 groups ; CON, MXD(2% Minoxidil), and CFWE. The treatments were applied twice a day for 18 days. The hair growth was determined photographically. The hair density, thickness and length were identified by Folliscope and the weights of body were measured. In dorsal skin tissue, the expression of hair growth-related protein was analyzed by Western blot. In hDPCs with/without $IFN-{\gamma}$, cell proliferation and the expression of hair growth-related genes were analyzed. Results : We observed that CFWE promoted hair growth compared to CON. CFWE improved the hair density, thickness and length compared to CON. CFWE increased the $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling in dorsal skin. In hDPCs, CFWE accelerated the cell proliferation and inhibited $IFN-{\gamma}$-induced hDPCs degeneration. CFWE increased the mRNA expression of ${\beta}$-catenin, Axin-2, BMP-4, FGF-7, FGF-10, and ALP compared to CON and $IFN-{\gamma}$ treated cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that CFWE has a hair regrowth activity via $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling and can be useful for the treatment of alopecia.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.136-143
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• 2015

This study was performed to comparative investigate the distribution of primary sensory and motor neurons associated with Cheonji(PC1) acupoint by using neural tracing technique. A total 4 SD rats were used in the present study. After anesthesia, the rats received microinjection of $6{\mu}l$ of cholera toxin B subunit(CTB) into the corresponding sites of the acupoints Cheonji(PC1) in the human body for observing the distribution of the related primary sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia(DRGs) and motor neurons in the spinal cord(C3~T4) and sympathetic ganglia. Three days after the microinjection, the rats were anesthetized and transcardially perfused saline and 4% paraformaldehyde, followed by routine section of the DRGs, sympathetic chain ganglia(SCGs) and spinal cord. Labeled neurons and nerve fibers were detected by immunohistochemical method and observed by light microscope equipped with a digital camera. The labeled neurons were recorded and counted. From this research, the distribution of primary sensory and motor neurons associated with Cheonji(PC1) acupoints were concluded as follows. Muscle meridian related Cheonji(PC1) are controlled by spinal segments of C5~T1, C6~T4, respectively.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.311-314
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• 2001

To elucidate the effect of dorsal acupoints for canine electroacupuncture anesthesia, mongrel dogs(6 heads: 2.6-10.5kg, 3 males and 3 females) were used. After needling perpendicularly to Tian-Ping(GV-5) and Bai-Hui(GV-20), the electrodes were connected with positive to Tian-Ping and negative to Bi-hui, respectively using with veterinary electroacupuncture apparatus(TEC AM-3000). The electric conditions were 2-4V and 30 Hz. The pain of body surface was checked by hemostatic forceps. The effect of electroacupuncture andesthesia was appreciated by application of laparotomy(2 heads), ear trimming and tail amputation(1 head), castration(2 heads) and enterotomy(1 head), respectively. Induction time, clinical findings and operation findings were investigated under the electroacupuncture anesthesia. The induction time of electroacupuncture anesthesia was very rapid, approximately 1 minute and the pain of body surface including the extremities was not detected. As for clinical findings during electroacupuncture anesthesia, consciousness was evident, pupil reflex was weak and blepharoreaction was existed. As for operation findings, pain was not detected during incision and suture, and bleeding was relatively small volume. The grade of electroacupuncture anesthesia was excellent in all cases applied with ear trimming and tail amputation, laparatomy, castration and enterotomy. Considering above all findings, it was thought that electroacupuncture stimulation at Tian-Ping and Bai-hui examined in the present study induced excellent electroacupuncture anesthesia for dogs.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-32
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was performed to understand the interrelation between 'Foot three yang meridian-muscle' and 'muscular system'. Methods : We have researched some of the literatures on Meridian-muscle theory, anatomical muscular system, myofascial pain syndrome and anatomy trains. And especially we have compared myofascial pain syndrome to anatomy trains and researched what kind of relationship is exist between them. Results : It is considered that Foot taeyang meridian-muscle includes Abductor digiti minimi m., Gastrocnemius m., Biceps femoris m., Longissimus m., Omohyoid m., Occipital m., Frontal m., Orbicularis oculi m., Trapezius m., Sternocleidomastoid m., Sternohyoid m., Zygomaticus m. Foot soyang meridian-muscle includes Dorsal interosseus m., Tendon of extensor digitorum longus m., Extensor digitorum longus m., Iliotibial band, Vastus lateralis m., Piriformis m., Tensor fasciae latae m., Internal abdominal oblique m., External abdominal oblique m,, Internal intercostal m., External intercostal m., Pectoralis major m., Sternocleidomastoid m., Posterior auricular m., Temporal m., Masseter m., Orbicularis oculi m. Foot yangmyung meridian-muscle includes Extensor digitorum longus m., Vastus lateralis m., Iliotibial band, Iliopsoas m., Anterior tibial m., Rectus femoris m., Sartorius m., Rectus abdominis m., Pectoralis major m., Internal intercostal m., External intercostal m., Sternocleidomastoid m., Masseter m., Levator labii superioris m., Zygomatic major m., Zygomatic minor m., Orbicularis oculi m., Buccinator m. and the symptoms of Foot three yang meridian-muscle are similar to the myofascial pain syndrome. Superficial back line in anatomy trains is similar to the pathway of Foot taeyang meridian-muscle. Lateral Line in anatomy trains is similar to the pathway of Foot soyang meridian-muscle. Superficial Front Arm Line in anatomy trains is similar to the pathway of Foot yangmyung meridian-muscle. Conclusions : There is some difference between myofascial pain syndrome and meridian-muscle theory in that the former explains each muscle individually, while the latter classifies muscular system in the view of integrated organism. More studies are needed in anatomy and physiology to support the integration of muscular system of Foot three yang meridian-muscle in aspect of anatomy trains.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.101-121
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• 2000

The purpose of this morphological studies was to investigate the relation to the meridian, acupoint and nerve. The common locations of the spinal cord and brain projecting to the the gallbladder, GB34 and common peroneal nerve were observed following injection of transsynaptic neurotropic virus, pseudorabies virus(PRV), into the gallbladder, GB34 and common peroneal nerve of the rabbit. After survival times of 96 hours following injection of PRV, the thirty rabbits were perfused, and their spinal cord and brain were frozen sectioned($30{\mu}m$). These sections were stained by PRV immunohistochemical staining method, and observed with light microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In spinal cord, PRV labeled neurons projecting to the gallbladder, GB34 and common peroneal nerve were founded in thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal segments. Densely labeled areas of each spinal cord segment were founded in lamina V, VII, X, intermediolateral nucleus and dorsal nucleus. 2. In medulla oblongata, The PRV labeled neurons projecting to the gallbladder, GB34 and common peroneal nerve were founded in the A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus, rostroventrolateral reticular nucleus, medullary reticular nucleus, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus nerve, nucleus tractus solitarius, raphe obscurus nucleus, raphe pallidus nucleus, raphe magnus nucleus, gigantocellular nucleus, lateral paragigantocellular nucleus, principal sensory trigeminal nucleus and spinal trigeminal nucleus. 3. In Pons, PRV labeled neurons were parabrachial nucleus, Kolliker-Fuse nucleus and cochlear nucleus. 4. In midbrain, PRV labeled neurons were founded in central gray matter and substantia nigra. 5. In diencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were founded in lateral hypothalamic nucleus, suprachiasmatic nucleus and paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus. 6. In cerebral cortex, PRV labeled neuron were founded in hind limb area.This results suggest that PRV labeled common areas of the spinal cord projecting to the gallbladder, GB34 and common peroneal nerve may be first-order neurons related to the somatic sensory, viscero-somatic sensory and symapathetic preganglionic neurons, and PRV labeled common area of the brain may be first, second and third-order neurons response to the movement of smooth muscle in gallbladder and blood vessels.These PRV labeled neurons may be central autonomic center related to the integration and modulation of reflex control linked to the sensory system monitoring the internal environment, including both visceral sensation and various chemical and physical qualities of the bloodstream. The present morphological results provide that gallbladder meridian and acupoint may be related to the central autonomic pathways.