• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.105-127
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• 2013

Objectives : We examined the use of the moxibustion through survey on Korean Medicine Doctors (KMDs) on preparation of universal moxa product standard by fully reflecting opinions of practitioners and the industry. Methods : The questionnaire is composed of 25 questions including use of indirect moxa, side effects, complaints and improvements, general characteristics and so on, and were responded by 1,588 KMDs. For statistics, frequency analysis, chi-square analysis, T-test and ANOVA were conducted using SPSS 12.0 for windows, and the significance level was 0.05. Results : In this research, 91% of the responded KMDs was using moxibustion, and the proportion of using mediate moxibustion was shown as 63.2%. They used mediate moxibustion for side effects of direct moxa method such as risk of burn, ease of use, control of stimulation and so on. And it was mostly being conducted to women and 40 ages. Most respondents gave moxibustion treatments for the purpose of thermal stimulation on acupoint to musculoskeletal diseases. Most respondents were treating 1~2 pieces of moxibustion to patients by moxibustion points to those of 1~2 regions every time within 10 minutes. Regarding the frequency of side effects of mediate moxibustion, within 3% of respondents had experienced side effects, and the types were burn, flare and itchiness, odor and smoke. The dissatisfaction of mediate moxibustion products was moderate(2.00 out of 5 point scale), and went up public health doctors, the younger ages and the shorter clinical experience. Complaints on mediate moxibustion products were serious odor, poor attachment, risk of burn etc. Regarding ways to improve mediate moxibustion, the expansion of moxibustion's insurance cost carne out highest, followed by preparation of manual on efficacy, strengthening of training, acquiring evidence on efficacy, diversification of specifications, safety improvement, quality improvement of mediate moxibustion products. Conclusions: Many KMDs use for ease of use and give moxibustion treatments for thermal stimulation but they complain about safety, efficacy and quality of mediate moxibustion. After this it is considered that we have to elevate therapeutic effect through the improvement of mediate moxibustion products.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.4
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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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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.15-23
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• 2003

Objective : The role of high frequency 120 Hz electroacupuncture(EA) in carrageenan-induced pain was studied by examining the alnalgesic effects, and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ levels measurement and spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor expression. Inflammation was induced by an intraplantar injection of 1% carrageenan into the right hind paw. Method : Bilateral EA stimulation with 120 Hz were delivered at those acupoints corresponding to Zusanli and Sanyinjiao in man via the needles for a total of 30 min duration in carrageenan-injected rats. Results : EA stimulation showed significant analgesic effects as measured by analgesy-meter at all time points tested compared with controls. Three hours after carrageenan injection, PGE2 levels were measured by commercial kit. EA significantly inhibited PGE2 production in the right paw. The number of NR1 and NR2A, NMDA receptor, immunoreactive neurons was significantly increased in the superficial dorsal horn(laminae I-II) and nucleus proprius(laminae III-IV) of ipsilateral spinal cord at L4-5. But the number of carrageenan-induced NR1 and NR2A immunoreactive neuron, especially NR1 immunoreaction in the superficial dorsal horn, was reduced by 120 Hz EA stimulation. Conclusions : These results indicate that NMDA receptors may mediate transmission of nociceptive information originating in tissue inflammation of hind paw and high frequency 120 Hz EA stimulation have an alleviating action against local inflammatory pain.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.383-388
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• 2003

Bee venom is used as a traditional medicine for treatment of arthritis. The anti-inflammatory activity of the n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous partitions from bee venom (Apis mellifera) was studied using cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$) production, in vitro. COX-2 is involved in the production of prostaglandins that mediate pain and support the inflammatory process. The aqueous partition of bee venom showed strong dose-dependent inhibitory effects on COX-2 activity ($IC_{50} = 13.1 \mu$ g/mL), but did not inhibit COX-1 activity. The aqueous partition was subfractionated into three parts by molecular weight differences, namely, B-F1 (above 20 KDa), B-F2 (between 10 KDa and 20 KDa) and BF-3 (below 10 KDa). B-F2 and B-F3 strongly inhibited COX-2 activity and COX-2 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner, without revealing cytotoxic effects. TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$ are potent pro-inflammatory cytokines and are early indicators of the inflammatory process. We also investigated the effects of three subfractions on TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$ production using ELISA method. All three subfractions, B-F1, B-F2 and B-F3, inhibited TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$production. These results suggest the pharmacological activities of bee venom on anti-inflammatory process include the inhibition of COX-2 expression and the blocking of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$) production.