Objectives : The purpose of the present study was to examine statistical methods used in articles published on the Korean Journal of Acupuncture from 2007 through 2012. Methods : Statistical methods and statistical packages used in original articles applied with descriptive statistics or inferential statistics were organized. Results : Out of a total of 195 original articles, 18 articles used descriptive statistics only and 177 articles used inferential statistics. 142 articles used 12 types of statistical packages. SPSS was used most at 97 times(63.4%). The number of descriptive statistical methods used was a total of 417 and among them 193 were presented as tables(46.3%) and 224 were presented as graphs(53.7%). The number of inferential statistics applied was a total of 256 and analysis of variance was used most at 90 times(35.2%). The number of parametric statistical methods used was a total of 170(75.6%) and that of nonparametric statistical methods used was a total of 55(24.4%). Analysis of variance and two sample t-test were most employed in both clinical and non-clinical research. The number of multiple comparison methods applied was a total of 67 and the number of Scheffe methods among them was most at 26 times(37.7%). Conclusions : In the present study, statistical methods used in the journal over the last six years were examined. The result of this study is considered to be a basic material to be referred to when evaluating the quality of the medical journal.

Objectives : Definition of Life has led an identity and advancement in the knowledge system of science including biomedicine. The world welcomes the new paradigm about the integrative medicine throughout Western Medicine and Traditional Medicine co-exists so far. Methods : Thus this study has comprised how Life was interpreted in Korean Medical history. To reach the purpose, various data and documents about Life subjected to the medical field was collected from medical textbooks and chapters presented in ancient Korean Medicine. Results : Most of important issue is Life as the key even though there are many opinions and conflicts in the view of Life between Western and Korean medical culture. As a result it is not different in the concept of Life each other except for speaking differently same as using the different languages. Integrative Medicine has accepted that it emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapies. Integrative Medicine declares to be a kind of medicine if vary medical system can focus on human being. Conclusions : Since Korean Medicine was early therapeutic medical categories developed based on Dao, Korean Medicine have to focus on mind and body interactive relationship and attribute to the public health care system in the future.

Objectives : The objective of this study is to report the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of fetal breech presentation. Methods : We searched papers in PubMed, using the keywords "breech and moxibustion" and "breech and acupuncture". Search range includes randomized clinical trials(RCTs), controlled clinical trials(CCTs), case reports, and case series. Each original article must have an abstract in English. Finally, 7 RCTs from 102 were included in this review. Results : As a result of analyzing the 7 RCTs, five trials hold that moxibustion or acupuncture at BL67 has been shown to produce a positive effect for the correction of breech presentation and the other two trials indicated no beneficial effect. However, one of the latter could not come to a conclusion owing to the unsatisfactory compliance record of the participants. Conclusions : Acupuncture and moxibustion may be effective to correct fetal breech presentation. In this regard, the related clinical researches are worth to be conducted.

Objectives : The purpose is to introduce the recent large-scale clinical researches for safety, efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture in Germany. Results : In 2000, the German Federal Committee of Physicians and Health insurer proposed that large research initiatives on acupuncture, Acupuncture Model Projects(Modellvorhaben Akupunktur), could be conducted by health insurance companies for several pain that acupuncture is syndromes to justify the insurance-based reimbursement. Accordingly, 4 clinical researches were carried out; the Acupuncture Safety and Health economics studies(ASH), the Acupuncture Randomised Trial(ART), the Acupuncture in Routine Care studies(ARC), and the German Acupuncture trial(GERAC). Meanwhile, ASH is a prospective observational study for safety and costs. ART and GERAC are composed of RCTs for efficacy. ARC includes 6 pragmatic RCTs with additional non-randomized cohort study for effectiveness. We investigated the papers related to them and discussed about the outcomes. The researches showed that acupuncture is effective in practice for several chronic conditions such as migraine, tension-type headache, chronic low back pain, osteoarthritis of knee, dysmenorrhea, and allergic rhinitis. Based in part on them, the German health authorities decided that acupuncture would be included into routine reimbursement by social health insurance funds for chronic low back pain and chronic osteoarthritis of the knee in 2006. Conclusions : The German clinical researches may suggest the clues for establishing the evidence of acupuncture treatment.

Objectives : The focus of the analysis was laid on changes in research pertaining to bee venom in regards to time progression. Methods : We collected 365 articles on Bee venom study result from OASIS system using the Keyword 'bee venom, apitoxin, apitherapy, bee sting'. We figured out number and percentage of theses according to year, study method, journal, subject. Results : Bee venom papers published in the journal of korean medicine from 1976. The classification of papers associated with bee venom, clinical studies outnumbered the other study types by a ratio of 1.3 to 1, followed by 138 for experimental papers, and 22 for literature studies. Proportion of Experimental Papers Classified According to the Theme, 16 for pain-killing, 14 papers concentrated on apoptosis anticancer, 13 for anti inflammatory, 11 for arthritis, and other disorders were followed. Type analysis of papers associated with bee venom in clinical trials, lumbar disorders comprised 38 out of 205 papers, 35 papers concentrated on upper limb disorders, 34 papers concentrated on systemic disease, followed by the effect on body. Conclusions : Bee venom is a treatment method based on the unique theory of Korean traditional medicine. Its effort and academical approach on bee venom are expected to receive positive evaluation through numerous research works.

Objectives : The Meridians and acupuncture points are the fundamental theories for acupuncture therapy. They have been associated with nervous system, but It is not well defined. We investigated that the effects of acupuncture at the river points(LU8, HT4, PC5, SP5, KI7, LR4) on the changes in the expression of nNOS, iNOS, eNOS, and NE in rats. Methods : The Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups each non-acupuncture and acupuncture group. We inserted needle and retained for 5 minutes on both left and right sides of LU8, HT4, PC5, SP5, KI7, LR4 which were the river points of five transport points for 6 yin meridian vessels. After that, blood was drawn via cardiac puncture, and tissues for each point near meridian vessels were extracted to examine the changes in the changes of nNOS, eNOS, iNOS and NE. Results : The LU8 and HT4 group showed a significant decrease on nNOS. In terms of eNOS and iNOS, the LU8 group decreased significantly while the KI7 group increased significantly. However, the experimental groups didn't show any significant changes on the plasma and tissue norepinephrine without plama NE in SP5 group. Conclusions : The effect on the nNOS, iNOS, eNOS of acupuncture at LU8 and KI7 could be observed, and it is considered that the effect of acupuncture related with on nervous system could be studied by additional researches based on this one.

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine whether electroacupuncture(EA) is effective in reducing pain on the severe ankle sprain classified as grade 3 in rats. Methods : The severe(grade 3) ankle sprain model was induced surgically by ankle ligament injury(the anterior talofibular, the calcaneofibular and the posterior talofibular) in the Sprague-Dawley rats(180~250 g). The effects of EA on weight bearing forces(WBR) of the affected foot were examined in a rat model of ankle sprain. EA was applied to either SI6, ST37, GB34, GB39 or GB42 acupoints by trains of electrical pulses(2 Hz, 1 ms pulse width, 2 mA intensity) for 15 min. Results : Cutting of the lateral ankle ligament complex produced the severe ankle sprain symptoms as grade 3. EA of the contralateral SI6 resulted in more analgesic effect than one of ipsilateral SI6 even though there was significant effect. EA of the ipsilateral GB34 and GB39 produced potent analgesic effects on the surgical ankle sprained pain behaviors. However, there were no significant analgesic effects in the contralateral GB34 and GB39 EA groups. In addition, both side of ST37 and GB42 did not result in analgesic effect on the surgical ankle sprained rat. Conclusions : The data suggest that EA induced analgesia shows point specificity on the severe ankle sprained pain model classified as grade 3.

목적 : 신경병증성 통증 쥐 모델에서 통증 행동과 척수 교세포의 활성화에 대한 반복적 전침의 영향을 실험하였다. 방법 : 21마리 Sprague-Dawley 성체 수컷 쥐를 무작위적으로 대조군, SP6 군, ST36+GB34 군으로 나누었다. 신경병증성 통증은 L5 척수신경을 단단하게 묶는 것으로 유도하였다. 신경병증성 통증이 유도된 뒷발에 기계적 및 열적 민감도를 조사하였다. 모든 군의 L5/6 척수에서 면역조직화학염색법을 수행하였다. 수술 이후 5일째부터 하루에 한번씩 전침을 시행하였다. 결과 : 족삼리(ST36)와 양릉천(GB34)에 적용된 전침은 3번의 처치 이후 실험기간 내내 기계적 및 열적 민감도를 모두 감소시켰다. 삼음교(SP6) 군에서는 진통 효과가 7번의 처치 이후 감소됨을 보였다. 면역조직화학염색법은 ST36+GB34 군에서 L5/6 척수 후각에서 교세포와 성상세포의 활성화가 억제됨을 보였다. 결론 : 이 결과는 반복적인 전침은 신경병증성 통증에 강한 진통 효과를 발휘 하는 것을 시사한다. 신경병증성 통증에서 이 진통 효과는 교세포와 성상세포의 활성화를 억제하는 것과 관련이 있다.

목적 : 본 연구는 퇴행성 슬관절염 환자의 통증을 줄이고 증상을 개선하는데 있어 현재 침구임상에서 활용되고 있는 온침이 침보다 더욱 유효한지를 알아보기 위하여 임상연구로 시행되었다. 방법 : 총 76명의 퇴행성 슬관절염 지원자가 연구에 참가하였으며, 이들 모두는 선정기준과 제외기준에 의하여 선발되었고 최종적으로 임상연구를 마친 지원자는 66명이었다. 지원자들은 무작위로 온침군과 침군 중에 할당이 되었다. 실험군(온침)에 속한 38명은 온침시술을, 대조군(침)에 속한 38명은 침시술을 받았으며, 8주 동안 총 16회의 시술을 환측의 무릎에 시행하였다. 주된 평가척도는 Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)이었고, 부수적 평가척도는 physical health score based on the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36), Patient Global Assessment이었다. 결과 : 실험군이 대조군에 비해서 WOMAC의 pain, function, total score와 Patient Global Assessment에서 월등한 감소를 나타내었으나 SF-36에서는 유의한 변화가 없었다. 결론 : 이번 연구의 결과를 통해 온침이 침에 비하여 퇴행성 슬관절염 환자의 통증 감소와 기능개선에 유의성있게 효과가 있음을 확인하였다.

Objectives : LI11 has been known to suppress epileptic seizure. Using an mouse epilepsy model, we investigated whether acupuncture stimulation at LI11 can suppress kainic acid(KA)-induced epileptic seizure and apoptosis in the mouse hippocampus. Methods : Eight-week-old male C57/BL6 mice(20~25 g) were given acupuncture at LI11 or ST36 once a day for 3 days. After the last acupuncture stimulations, KA(30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally and the degree of seizure was observed for 90 minutes. Twenty-four hours after KA administration, mice were sacrificed and the neural cell death, astrocyte activation and caspase-3 expression in their hippocampi were investigated. Results : Acupuncture stimulation at LI11 suppressed KA-induced epileptic seizure, neuronal cell death, astrocyte activation and caspase-3 expression. Conclusions : Acupuncture stimulation at LI11 decreases the KA-induced epileptic seizure and protects hippocampal cell death via regulating astrocyte activation and caspase-3 expression.