• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.1-20
• /
• 2019

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of Korean Medicine Hospital Utilization (KMHU) on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and death in hypertensive patients taking antihypertensives. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database, this study identified and diagnosed 68,457 hypertensive patients taking antihypertensives between 2003 and 2006. They were divided into KMHU and non-KMHU groups. The follow-up period ended with the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death. After propensity score matching (PSM), there were 18,242 patients each in the non-KMHU and KMHU groups. We calculated the incidence rate, hazard ratio (HR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) for MACE, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death in patients with hypertension using a stratified Cox proportional hazard model. In addition, secondary outcome analyses for stroke and cardiovascular mortality were performed. Results: After PSM, the HRs for MACE (HR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.81-0.87), all-cause mortality (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.72-0.79), and myocardial infarction (HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83-0.97) were significantly lower in the KMHU group than in the non-KMHU group. Moreover, the HRs for stroke-related mortality, haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke-related mortality, and ischaemic heart disease-related and circulatory system disease-related mortality were significantly lower in the KMHU group than in the non-KMHU group. Conclusions: On long-term follow-up observation, this study supported the effect of KMHU for managing hypertension and reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.202-216
• /
• 2001

Subject : After acupuncture at So-Chung(HT9) in humans(n=4) we intend to know the differents of acupuncture at acupuncture and non-acupuncture on the electrical frequency change and signal transmission along the meridian with different acupuncture manipulation method. Met6ods : The etectrical signal on the heart merdian acupuncture point, So-Bu(HT8), Shin-Moon(HT7) and So-Hae(HT3), and control non acupuncture points was measured by electrodes biopack instrument. Acupuncture needles(diameter: 0.25mm, length:30mm) were used for acupuncture. The frequency was recorded before, during and after needling the So-chung. Results : After acupuncture the components between 2 and 5Hz frequency level were decreased comparing with that of pre-acupuncture state. Time-delayed correlation coefficient was increased every 10 seconds. It imply that the signal may be transferred. These effects did not appear at non acupuncture point and also did not arise when there was no ki(氣) feeling. These results suggest that acupuncture stimulation is similar to 2~5Hz frequency electric acupuncture. and ki feeling and manipulation which can induce ki feeling is very important in acupuncture clinic.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review clinical trials using moxibustion on hypertension and to assess their methodology and results. Methods : Electronic literature searches for clinical trials (randomized trial, non-randomized trial, before-after study) of moxibustion were performed in nine electronic databases (four international databases and five Korean databases) and handsearch. English, Korean or Chinese articles were included. Laboratory or animal studies were excluded. Results : A total of twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven randomized controlled trial, three non-randomized trials and two before-after studies were included. Seven studies used direct moxibustion(two are scarring one) and five used indirect one. Five of twelve studies used moxibustion treatment just one time, except for that most frequency was once daily or 2-3 times per week for 1-2 months. Of ten randomized or non-randomized studies, three used antihypertension drug control and another three used waiting list control. Compare to baseline, change of blood pressure after moxibustion treatment was significant in all studies. However, the results of effect in blood pressure between moxibustion and controlled were not consistent. Methodological quality of clinical trials included in this review was low and has risk of bias, especially in blinding of parcitipant. Conclusions : There are little high-quality clinical trials of moxibustion for hypertension. To evaluate the effect of moxibustion, more rigorous trials are warranted. Also, methodology of clinical trials have to be descripted in detail.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.423-428
• /
• 2017

Vestibular compensation is a recovery process from vestibular symptoms over time after unilateral loss of peripheral vestibular end organs. The aim of the present study was to observe time-dependent changes in long-term potentiation (LTP) at Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses in the CA1 area of the hippocampus during vestibular compensation. The input-output (I/O) relationships of fEPSP amplitudes and LTP induced by theta burst stimulation to Schaffer's collateral commissural fibers were evaluated from the CA1 area of hippocampal slices at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL). The I/O relationships of fEPSPs in the CA1 area was significantly reduced within 1 week post-op and then showed a non-significant reduction at 1 month after UL. Compared with sham-operated animals, there was a significant reduction of LTP induction in the hippocampus at 1 day and 1 week after UL. However, LTP induction levels in the CA1 area of the hippocampus also returned to those of sham-operated animals 1 month following UL. These data suggest that unilateral injury of the peripheral vestibular end organs results in a transient deficit in synaptic plasticity in the CA1 hippocampal area at acute stages of vestibular compensation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.117-125
• /
• 2009

Objectives : This study is to research the trend of the Moxibustion-related studies and to establish the hereafter direction for the study on Moxibustion. Methods : We reviewed the domestic articles published last ten years(2000~2009). Results : We have searched 45 articles in 4 journals of Korean Acupuncture & Moxibusion, Korean Oriental Medicine, Korean Meridian & Acupoint, Korean Oriental Internal Medicine. 1. There were the most research done 2003, 2008. Both of them have 8 articles. In other years there were 2 or more articles. 2. The pattern of study was as follow: the clinical studies were 23, studies of phisical Characteristics and new moxibustion method were 9, the philological study were 5, the reviewed studies were 3, the experimental studies were 2 and the others were 5. The rate of clinical studies was increased. 3. In the clinical studies, the case-control study and non case-control study were more than case study. The disease after stroke were the most predominant. The rates of direct moxibustion and indirect moxibusion were similar. 4. After beginning 2000s, there were more studies of thermodynamic Characteristics. In the mid 2000s, there were more studies of new moxibustion method appearing. Conclusions : We need more studies about various kinds of diseases, side effect and aftereffects. There should be convenient and useful methods of moxibustion.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.250-259
• /
• 2012

Objectives : In this study, it has aimed to search cupping therapy standardization research course by reviewing former studies. Methods : It has reviewed articles about cupping therapy, published in South Korea. Review focused on cupping therapy treating methods. Results : Articles about cupping therapy is slightly increasing. Clinical study was the most popular study method. It has most used non-bleeding cupping therapy, and bleeding cupping therapy is next. Treating time was very various and there were no tendency or trends about treating time. Pressure inside cup has used from 30 mmHg to 600 mmHg, and pressure of 600 mmHg used mostly. Conclusions : As a result of this study, it is considered that data and standard about pressure and treating time is required. And it should be focus on pressure and treating time to standardizing cupping therapy.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to review the research trends in treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (O.C.D) in traditional Chinese medicine. Methods : We searched articles in CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure) from 1995 to 2012 with key words, "强迫症", "强迫性神经症", "强迫神经", and "强迫性恐惧", and we selected 14 studies except for non-clinical, unrelated or insufficient number of case studies. Then we performed a systematic review of them. Results : 14 studies were divided into 8 case reports and 6 control studies. Most of the studies reported that one or more of Herbal medicine, Psychotherapy, Electroacupuncture therapy, Acupoint stimulating control, and acupuncture treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder were very effective. However, the quality of these clinical studies was not high. Conclusions : It seems that the researches for obsessive-compulsive disorder have been performed actively in traditional Chinese medicine. We hope that our study can activate clinical research for this disorder in Korean traditional medicine.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the trends in foreign clinical trials for pediatric asthma in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Methods : We reviewed 31 randomized controlled trials (RCT) for pediatric asthma treatment in CAM published from 2005 to 2015 in PubMed and analyzed their treatments, compounds of herbal medicines, acupoints, methods of assessment, and treatment results. Results : The treatments used in the studies were herbal medicines, acupuncture, acupoint application, breathing training, supplement, normocaloric diet, yoga, massage therapy, and art therapy. The frequently used herbs were Asari Herba Cum Radix (細辛). Ephedrae Herba (麻黃), Astragali Radix. The most common acupoints were Feishu (肺兪, BL13). The methods of assessment in pediatric asthma were symptom scale, questionnaire of Quality of Life, lung function test, laboratory studies, and medication usage. In 28 out of 31 studies, treatment group gets better than non-treated group. Conclusions : This study shows that CAM is effective in treating pediatric asthma. More clinical studies using objective outcome measures are needed to prove its efficacy clearly.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.404-409
• /
• 1998

To elucidate the effect of the acupoints of the limbo for canine electroacupunhur anesthesial total 140 heads of dogs were used. The animals were divided into 3 experimental groups(Gong-sun, San-yin-jiao and Qiang-feng and contro1 group(non-acupoint). The induction time, clinical findings and the results of operation using laparatomy were investigated under the electroacupunture anesthesia and compared with those of control. The induction time of electroacupunture anesthesia was very rapids about 1 minute in experimental groups, while it is unable to succeed in anesthesia of control group. As far clinical Bindings during electroacupunture anesthesia, the experimental animals had vivid consciousness and stability without tumult and barking. The success rate of operation was high with decreasing order of Gong-sun group(50/50, 100%) > San-yin·jiao group(26/30, 86.7%) 1 Qiag-feng group(18/ 30, 60%) in experimental groups. Considering above findings collectively, the combination of Gong-sun and San-yang-luo is thought to be best method among the acupoints of the limbs for canine electroacupunture anesthesia.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.29-41
• /
• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study is to examine the effects of SSP(silver-spike point) therapy, applied to acupuncture points, on the middle cerebral arteries blood flows of sample group(tention-type headache patients, n=12) and control group(non tension-type headache patients, n=12), and on the reduction of their headaches, when applied to acupuncture points. Methods : We stimulated 6 acupuncture points for headache with the SSP(three times a week for three weeks), and measured VAS(visual analogue scale) and the blood flow of the middle cerebral arteries with TCD(transcranial doppler ultrasonography). Results : The blood flow of the middle cerebral artery and VAS of the sample group and the control group were compared four times(initial, 1weeks, 2weeks, 3weeks) and significant differences in the measurements were found at 3 weeks(p<.05). The blood flow of the middle cerebral artery of the sample group was significantly increased, and VAS was significantly decreased in both groups. Conclusions : The silver-spike-point low-frequency electrical-stimulation treatment, applied to acupuncture points, can significantly increase the blood flow of the middle cerebral arteries in headache patients and can thus alleviate their headaches.