• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2007

Objectives : To discuss the biocompatibility of stainless steel for using acupuncture needles. Results and Conclusions : It is widely assumed that stainless steel is one of the good corrosion-resistant materials and is safe for human body, Most of metal acupuncture needles are made of STS304 and STS316 in light of human body safety: STS304 in more differences between STS304 and STS316 in light of human body safety: STS304 is more vulnerable to oxidation than STS316. A variety of literature survey showed that although STS316 is more corrosion-resistant than STS304 there is no evidence supporting the hypothesis that STS304 has the potential danger to human body, Further study would be necessary to draw more decisive conclusion.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.147-157
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to explore the current research trend on acupuncture treatment for nerve regeneration and recovery effect. Methods : We investigated the researches so far, on acupuncture treatment for the nerve regeneration and recovery via searching Pubmed from 2005 up to October 2014. Data were extracted from the included studies regarding the authors, countries, type of nerve injury, type of acupuncture, treatment period, acupuncture points, assessment tool and results. Results and Conclusions : Twenty-four research papers were included in the review. Outcomes were measured by immunohistochemical results, motor behavior scores, and electrocphysiological results. All but one study favored acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatment for nerve regeneration and recovery regardless of type of nerve injury and acupuncture modality. Acupuncture treatment may have a potential for nerve regeneration and recovery and further research is required.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.1399-1410
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• 2009

It is a method to treat pain using medication, neurotomy, and surgery. And acupuncture, ultrasound, electric treatment, and magnetic treatment are applied as a alternative physiotherapy. Electronic therapy is useful but it can be affected by impedance of skin or subcutaneous tissue. So, percutaneous stimulation is leading therapy, that is very randomly. We developed the system which can stimulate parts of acupuncture point noninvasively using the focused magnetic field. And we designed the magnetic stimulation electrode which is considered efficiency of the magnetic stimulation. It can make similar stimulation with manual acupuncture. To confirm the availability and reliability we compared Meridian Electronic Potential(MEP) change between manual acupuncture and magnetic stimulation. From this result, we found out the MEP changes of manual acupuncture and magnetic stimulation were similar. And there were various response properties as changes of stimulation method, intensity, and frequency. Also, the MEP change can be induced by electromagnetic stimulation. We confirmed that it is possible to use electromagnetic stimulation as a acupoint stimulation or pain treatment instrument.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.156-168
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aimed to determine the status of thermal stimulation devices approved in Korea for medical applications over the past 10 years, and based on this, to obtain insight for future thermal treatment in Korean medical institutions. Methods : We searched the item classification list entitled "Regulations on Medical Device Items and Rating by Item" from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Notice No. 2021-24, 2021 (Enforced March 19, 2021; www.mfds.go.kr) for individually licensed heaters using the terms "heat" and "heating". Results : We identified 17 items of thermal stimulation product group, of which 1,308 devices were licensed by February 4, 2022, and 53.2% of them (n=696) were devices with valid permits for distribution in Korea. Among the licensed devices, heating pad systems under/overlay (electric, home use) were approved the most, but combinational stimulator (for medical use, home use; Grade 2) accounted for the highest percentage among the current valid permission. Moxibustion apparatuses were licensed separately for electrical use and non-electrical use, and occupied a low percentage of the total devices. We analyzed 307 devices that were accompanied by technical documents and found that the heat sources were wires in 145 (47.2%), infrared rays in 44 (14.3%) and ultrasonic waves in 42 (13.7%) devices. Most (83.1%) devices were used for pain relief, while other applications included beauty, cancer treatment, maintenance of infant body temperature, and healing fractures. Conclusions : Thermal stimulation devices accounted for about 0.9% of all medical devices, and among them, combinational stimulators and heating pad systems under/overlay had the most valid permits. Thermal stimulation devices using heating wires and infrared rays were the most prevalent, and most were used to relieve pain. In order to develop a range of thermal stimulation devices that can be utilized in Korean medical institutions, it is imperative that they have potential applications beyond pain management, addressing various medical purposes. To achieve this, foundational research is necessary to effectively apply diverse heat sources based on medical objectives.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.101-115
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• 2004

Objective : The present studies investigated the effects of 120 Hz high frequency electroacupuncture (EA) on the stress-induced stomach dysfunction in relation to its effect on the level of stress hormones and gastric mucosal damages. The gastric mucosal injury was induced by cold-restraint stress and two acupoints corresponding to Zusanli and Sanyinjiao in man were used. Methods : Cold-restraint stress produced typical gastric lesions in all rats of the stressed groups, but the number of ulcers as well as the mean ulcer diameter were reduced by 120 Hz EA pre-treatment. Results : The degranulation value of gastric mast cell was significantly higher in cold-restrained rats than in control ones. However, with the significant reduction of degranulation values of gastric mast cells in EA pre-treated rats compared with cold-restrained rats. Cold-restarint stress induced an elevated mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory gene such as cyclooxygenases-2 and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, but these expression were down-regulated in EA pre-treated rats. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that while the $inhibitory-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ immunorection in the surface epithelium of the stomach tended to increase, both reactions in the EA pre-treated rats showed similar pattern as observed in controls. Conclusion : These results suggest that 120 Hz EA may act as a therapeutical means for gastric mucosal damages through an activation of pituitary adrenal system. It could be concluded that 120 Hz high frequency electroaucupuncture affords a good protective potential against stress-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.271-289
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• 2012

Objectives : Ganoderma lucidum(Ganoderma or lingzhi, 靈芝) is a well-known oriental medical mushroom containing many bioactive compounds. The possible mechanisms involved in its effects on cancer cells remain to be elucidated. In the present study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic activities of the G. lucidum ethanol extract(GEE), in AGS human gastric cancer cells were investigated. Methods : It was found that exposure of AGS cells to GEE resulted in the growth inhibition in a dose and time dependent manner as measured by trypan blue count and MTT assay. The anti-proliferative effect of GEE treatment in AGS cells was associated with morphological changes and formation of apoptotic bodies, and the flow cytometry analysis confirmed that GEE treatment increased the populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase. Growth inhibition and apoptosis of AGS cells by GEE were connected with a concentration and time-dependent up-regulation of tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL) expression. Results : The levels of XIAP and survivin expression, members of IAP family proteins, were gradually down-regulated by GEE treatment. However other members of IAP family proteins such as cIAP-1 and cIAP-2 remained unchanged in GEE-treated AGS cells. GEE treatment also induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 and a concomitant degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) protein, a caspase-3 substrate protein. Additionally, GEE-induced apoptosis was associated with the inhibition of Akt activation in a concentration and time-dependent manner, and pre-treatment with LY294002, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/Akt inhibitor, significantly increased GEE-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis. Conclusions : Therefore, G. lucidum has a strong potential as a therapeutic agent for preventing cancers such as gastric cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.43-51
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• 2011

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the effect of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi $H_2O$ fraction (FLLW) on cell proliferation, and the phosphorylation of ERKs and Akt in human dermal fibroblast neonatal (HDFn). Methods : After treatment of HDFn with FLLW, MTT assay was performed to quantitatively determine cellular viability. The ERK and Akt pathways were analyzed in vitro by Western blot in a HDFn. HDFn proliferation after FLLW and minoxidil treatment in the absence or presence of PD98059, a MEK inhibitor, LY294002, and a PI3K inhibitor, was examined by Western blot or MTT assay. Results : FLLW increased cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and minoxidil used as positive control also induced cell proliferation in HDFn. FLLW increased the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt. In addition, minoxidil, too, induced the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt in HDFn. PD98059 and LY294002 significantly attenuated FLLW-inducible p-ERK and p-Akt expression and proliferation in cultured HDFn. Conclusions : Our results suggest that FLLW stimulates the growth of fibroblast cells through ERK and Akt pathways. Therefore, FLLW is a potential agent for the inducer of fibroblast growth.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2016

Amomum cadamomum Linne (ACL) has long been utilized against the inhibited qi movement related diseases such as dyspepsia, acute gastroenteritis, vomiting and diarrhea in Korean medicine. We speculated that ACL could improve the metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes through removing the phlegm-dampness and promoting the qi movement or stagnation. This study was designed to investigate effects and molecular mechanisms of ACL extract on the improvement of adipocyte dysfunction induced by TNF-α in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Potential roles of ACL extract in the lipogenesis, inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and insulin resistance, were investigated in this study. Also, we examined the adipose genes and signaling molecules related to insulin resistance and glucose uptake to elucidate its mechanism. Our data demonstrated that TNF-α significantly incresed the release of lipid droplets and the production of MCP-1 and IL-6 from adipocytes. In gene expression, TNF-α reduced the expression of aP2, PPARγ, C/EBPα, GLUT4, and IRS-1 related to lipogenesis and insulin sesitivity, while TNF-α increased the expression of MCP-1 related to inflammation. In addition, TNF-α down-regulated the PPARγ and IRS-1 protein and up-regulated the IRS-1 Ser307 phosphorylation. These alterations induced by TNF-α were prevented by the treatment of ACL extract. Thus, our results indicate that ACL extract can be used to prevent from the TNF-α-induced adipocyte dysfunction through insulin and PPARγ pathways.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.12
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• pp.728-735
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• 2019

Objective: Previous studies suggested the potential influence of YouTube videos regarding dentistry on the mass population. However, there was not any clear investigation for Korean population. We aimed to systemically analyze the type of the dentistry-related videos uploaded on YouTube Korea and the accounts used for uploading, and to assess their effect on the view count of the content. Methods: Classification, type of the accounts, and view count of the videos listed by the keyword 'dentistry' were analyzed, which were uploaded on YouTube Korea platform from September 2017 to April 2019. Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc analysis was used to assess the effect of the classification of the videos and the type of accounts on the view count. Results: 1.026 videos were enrolled to the analysis. Primary classification of the videos was information/education, advertisement, life, news, child contents, autonomous sensory meridian response, broadcast, cartoon/game, humor, and music. Secondary classification of the videos was dental experience, advertisement, role-playing, information/education., humor, cartoon/game, child contents, life, and broadcast. Type of the accounts was dentistry associates, general public, media company, and government office (sorted by frequency). Subject of the most videos (93.6%) was general public. There was statistically significance in the view count of the videos according to the primary and secondary classifications, the account used for uploading, and target subject of the videos. Conclusion: Dentists and their associates should recognize the importance of YouTube platform and try to monitor and intervene the dentistry-related contents, considering its huge impact on the general public.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.59-75
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• 2018

Objectives : Contents regarding Qiuzimen as found in Beijiqianjinyaofang and Qianjinyifang were studied for their potentialities to be applied to infertility clinics. Methods : The contents on Qiuzimen in Beijiqianjinyaofang and Qianjinyifang are pondered upon after dividing into two categories of medical theory and therapeutic principle, and other related texts and dissertations are further studied to discover a potential subject matter in being applied to today's modern clinics. Results : 1. In medical theory, Sunsimiao picked five overexertions and seven damages as the main medical cause of infertility. For remedy, he established four common formula, which are: chinjasan, bakchotangpotang, suppository, and haseog(cheon)moondongwhan. 2. There are total of thirteen types of formula described in the Qiuzimen in Beijiqianjinyaofang and Qianjinyifang, and five acupuncture points are used in the moxibustion method. After analyzing the herbs that were used six or more times, it was discovered that medicines were used to tonify the viscera of heart and kidney that are damaged through five overexertions and seven damages. In moxibustion method, different points such as CV4, LR14, pomoon, cheonmoon, and KI2, which is the point for kidney meridian were used in order to tonify the uterus through lower abdomen area and reproductive organs. 3. Qiuzimen has not only had a great impact on the infertility treatment as found in Furendaquanliangfang, which is the first gynecology text in Song dynasty, but it also had a continuous impact on medical texts in Ming and Qing dynasty. 4. The infertility therapeutic principle and approach method as found in the Qiuzimen are still relevant in today's modern infetility treatment. Conclusions : In the Qiuzimen of Beijiqianjinyaofang and Qianjinyifang, the problem of infertility is viewed as the whole body's problem, namely a type of defective disease caused by five overexertions and seven damages, the view of which should be applied to today's modern clinics.