• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.241-251
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of electroacupuncture at GB14, on brain activity assessed on an electroencephalogram(EEG). Methods : (1) Thirty-four healthy participants were randomly divided into two groups, receiving either real acupuncture or non-penetrating sham acupuncture at GB14. (2) EEG measurements were conducted simultaneously before and after a 5-minute electroacupuncture stimulation, and the differences in the resulting EEG parameters were compared between the test and control groups. Results : (1) Absolute power increased significantly in the theta-wave channel of the occipital region and in the entire alpha-wave channel. (2) Relative power decreased significantly in the theta-wave channels of the frontal and occipital regions. (3) Coherence decreased significantly in the theta- and beta-wave channels of the parietal and occipital regions, and increased significantly in the alpha-wave channels of most areas. Conclusions : This study shows that electroacupuncture stimulation at GB14 activates the alpha frequency band in particular.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.220-229
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• 2013

Objectives : Electroacupuncture(EA) has been used effectively in producing analgesia on ankle sprain pain of humans and animals. Currently to examine the underlying mechanisms of the EA-induced analgesia, the effects of EA on weight-bearing forces(WBR) were examined at ankle sprain classified as grade 3 in rats. Methods : The severe ankle sprain classified as grade 3 was induced surgically by ankle ligament injury in the Sprague-Dawley rats. WBR of the affected foot were examined to evaluate effects and mechanism of EA(2 Hz, 1 ms pulse width, 2 mA intensity, for 15 min) which was applied to either SI6, GB34, or GB39 acupoints. The rats were pretreated with naltrexone(10 mg/kg, i.p.) as an opioid receptor antagonist or phentolamine(5 mg/kg, i.p) as an ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor antagonist at 30 min before EA. Results : The daily repeat EA at either SI6, GB34, or GB39 showed significant analgesic effects on the severe ankle sprain. Particularly, daily EA at GB34 showed more potent analgesic effect than the others. In addition, the naltrexone pretreatment completely blocked the analgesic effect of EA at GB34, indicating the involvement of the endogenous opioid system in mediating the effect of EA at GB34. However, the phentolamine pretreament blocked analgesic effects of EA at either SI6 or GB39, indicating the involvement of ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors in mediating the effect of EA at either SI6 or GB39. Conclusions : These data suggest that EA-induced analgesia on ankle sprain pain is mediated through either endogenous opioids or ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors dependant on acupoint specific pattern.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.60-69
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• 2001

Objective : Recent studies Suggested that there is a strong correlation between acupuncture stimulation and its related cortical activation. Anther study showed that either positive or negative BOLD effects could be observed depending on anatomical structure in acupuncture. Material and Methods : 1) Subjects and paradigms : Two separate stimulation paradigms were performed on five healthy (aged 22-23 yrs) in this study. First, the paradigm of acupuncture stimulation was that the acupuncture needle was inserted in acupoints KI6(照海), which is located in lateral side of the foot and then continuously twisted(補瀉를 除外한 捻轉法) for 70 seconds for 10 cycles of activation. During rest period (70 seconds), the needle was completed removed from acupoint. Total 60 cycles were performed and 10 images were obtained per cycle. Second, non-acupoint was randomly selected and the same paradigm was performed as acupoint stimulation. The stimulation protocol comprised 10 cycles of alternating activation and rest (10 images per cycle). Total 60 cycles were performed and each cycle take about 1.5 sec for motor task. Subjects take an at least 15 minutes break before starting anther paradigm. Conclusion : In this study, I investigated a new acupoint KI6(照海) which was known as motor - related acupoint and obtained an evidence that the stimulation of KI6(照海) resulted in negative BOLD response to stimulation.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2013

Objectives : In the acupuncture treatment of Korean Medicine, the Tonifying or Purging depending on how many times the needle is rotated has been used widely. However, there is little evidence about the optimal number of rotation. This study, therefore, was aimed to investigate the optimal number of rotation. Methods : Heart rate variation was measured before and after exercise in 20 healthy adults. Acupuncture was performed at PC6 immediately after exercise according to the protocol of each group without remaining. Pre-exercise and post-exercise measurements were compared and the rotation number that produced statistically significant difference was investigated. Results : Significant differences were found in the heart rate variation and R-R interval Average, between non-rotation group (control) and both of 15 times rotation group of tonifying and 6 times rotation group of purging. Conclusions : Significantly effective number of rotation in the effect of PC6 on the HR and RRAv was 15 times in the tonifying and 6 in the purging respectively.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.55-67
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• 2021

Objectives This review aimed to investigate studies of Chuna manual therapy (CMT) for low back pain and the evidence of their effects in order to suggest a better research method in the future. Methods We investigated studies on CMT for low back pain by searching Korean web databases from 2020 to 2021. As a result, 72 research papers were analyzed according to their published year, the titles of journals, the types of studies, the techniques of Chuna, and the instruments used for assessment. Results The results were as follows: 1. There were three papers published initially in 2000. this number showed a steady increase, and a total of 72 papers were published that year. 2. Studies on CMT were mainly published in the Journal of Korea Chuna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves. 3. When categorized according to the methods of studies, a simple case report was used more often than the sum of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs. 4. The most frequently adopted technique of Chuna in the examined studies was the COX flexion and distraction technique. 5. The Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index were used as primary means of assessment. Conclusions Based on the analysis, it was observed that this review provided limited evidence of CMT use in patients with LBP. Therefore, further investigation using well-designed RCTs is required to obtain higher evidence.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.13-23
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study was to develop the combined medical stimulus system consisted of the PEMFs (Pulsed electromagnetic fields) and LED which are able to stimulate local point such as acupoints and trigger points. Methods : To evaluate the therapeutic effect on the musculoskeletal disorders and the possibility of alternative method on manual acupuncture, we compared the fatigue recovery of two groups by analyzing the EMG and peak torque (non-stimulation and, stimulation group) after strenuous knee exercise. We chose the LR9 as a stimulation point. Results : The median frequency (MF) and fatigue index (F.I) of the stimulation group were recovered faster than those of the non-stimulation group. Also the peak torques of both groups were not restored until after 20 minutes. However, the peak torque of the stimulation group was regained higher than that of the non-stimulation group. Conclusions : We confirmed that the proposed combined stimulus system had useful effects as treatment instrument of musculoskeletal disorder using non-invasive method of PEMFs and LED.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2017

Objectives : The present study aimed to examine the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture(EA) applied to the brook point of the Liver meridian in the rat model of inflammatory pain and to investigate involvement of endogenouse opioid in the EA-induced analgesia. Methods : Knee arthritis was induced by injection of $125{\mu}l$ of complete Freund's adjuvant into the knee joint cavity unilaterally. To examine the level of pain, weight bearing forces(WBFs) of affected limb was measured. EA treatment was given at the LR2, LI4 or non-acupoint on the contralateral limb with frequency of 2 Hz and intensity of 2 mA under gaseous anesthesia. Results : After induction of arthritis, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected hindlimb due to a painful knee. EA applied to the LR2 point on the contralateral hind limb produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the hind limb lasting for at least 2 h, and this effect was equivalent to that obtained by 5 mg/kg of oral indomethacin. The effect of EA was specific to the acupoint since it could not be mimicked by EA applied to the LI4 point or the arbitrary non-acupoint. The analgesic effect was blocked by pretreatment with naltrexone(10 mg/kg, i.p.). Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture applied to LR2, brook point of Liver meridian suppresses inflammatory pain in a rat model of knee arthritis and this effect seems to be mediated by endogenous opioid systems.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.2747-2754
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• 2010

Cupping therapy has been used to extensive diseases. However, the research was yet to meridian and acupoint's change of state caused by Cupping. This study was considered a human-ripple effect by the anlaysis of meridian & acupoint's change of state. We developed the system which is keeps 30kPa Negative-pressure and stimulated on the Left Lung Meridian(LU) a halfway point between LU4 and LU5. We checked moisture and elasticity change on left/right acupoints & non-acupoints, then measured EMG Signal. We observed that moisture had little change(12.49%) and the better part of the elasticity on both sides had identified the change(64.42%). The number of the provoked acupoiunt elasticity change was more than non-acupoint. Also, elasticity change of Right side was more than Left side. We confirmed that RMS and Median Power change patterns were lower in proportional to the elastin change, but there was no significance about Median Frequency. Therefore inducing the change of elasticity and EMG signal on meridian-acupoints. Therefore, We checked the human-ripple effect Negative-pressure by the Cupping therapy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.187-202
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• 2018

Objectives : Non-invasive transcranial electrical stimulation is one of therapeutic interventions to change in neural excitability of the cortex. Transcranial electro-acupuncture (TEA) can modulate brain functions through changes in cortical excitability as a model of non-invasive transcranial electrical stimulation. Some composites of fermented Scutellaria baicalenis (FSB) can activate intercellular signaling pathways for activation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor that is critical for formation of neural plasticity in stroke patients. This study was aimed at evaluation of combinatory treatment of TEA and FSB on behavior recovery and cortical neural excitability in rodent focal stroke model. Methods : Focal ischemic stroke was induced by photothrombotic injury to the motor cortex of adult rats. Application of TEA with 20 Hz and $200{\mu}A$ in combination with daily oral treatment of FBS was given to stroke animals for 3 weeks. Motor recovery was evaluated by rotating bean test and ladder working test. Electrical activity of cortical pyramidal neurons of stroke model was evaluated by using multi-channel extracellular recording technique and thallium autometallography. Results : Compared with control stroke group who did not receive any treatment, Combination of TEA and FSB treatment resulted in more rapid recovery of forelimb movement following focal stroke. This combination treatment also elicited increase in spontaneous firing rate of putative pyramidal neurons. Furthermore expression of metabolic marker for neural excitability was upregulated in peri-infract area under thallium autometallography. Conclusions : These results suggest that combination treatment of TEA and FSB can be a possible remedy for motor recovery in focal stroke.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.383-387
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• 2006

This study was performed to clarify the effect of oculo-acupuncture(OA) on change of gastric contraction. Twenty-four clinically healthy mongrel dogs were used and divided into two groups regarding feeding condition; non-acupoint group (n=6) and Stomach/spleen region group (n=6) were stimulated by OA. In addition, 12 dogs were fasted for 24 hrs and divided into two groups; non-acupoint group (n=6) and Stomach/speen region group (n=6) was stimulated by OA. The change in frequency of gastric contraction was measured via abdominal ultrasound before, 0, 30, 60 and 120 minutes after OA. Significant differences were detected at 30 mins (p<0.05), 60 mins (p<0.05) and 120 mins (p<0.01) in the Stomach/speen region group, compared with those of non-acupoint group in feeding condition.