• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.1-19
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• 2004

Objectives : To understanding biological mechanism of acupuncture therapy, we have proposed a hypothesis. First of all, there exists electric property in meridian and meridian point. Second of all, energy flowing in meridian is related with electric property. Third of all, there is electronic interaction between the operator who performs acupuncture therapy and the receiver who is given acupuncture therapy. Forth of all, acupuncture effects may depend on the electric capacity which is transferred between the operator and the receiver via acupuncture needle. Methods : Under the hypothesis, we studied the effects of electric change in $ST_{37}(+)\;and\;ST_{39}(-)$ generated by Tanchim (彈鍼) manipulation which was stimulated at $ST_{36}$ point. And compared with data on the changes of electric change from the hand of the operator during acupuncture stimulation. Electric charge induced via acupuncture needle from the operator may be important factor that causes the changes of electric change in meridian and acupoint in the receiver. Therefore we investigated the changes of electric charge induced by the operator using Maclab 400 by the following methods. The one was in stable electric circle condition and the other was in unstable electric circle condition. Results : In this experiments, the changes of electric change from the stimulation type of Tanchim manipulation performed in our lab condition in acupuncture therapy was induced at least three factor, one was the difference of bio-potentials between the operator and the receiver of acupuncture therapy, another was the depth of acupuncture insertion from the skin of the receiver, the other was an electromyogram of the receiver. Conclusion : The data imply that the first factor should make a capacitance current when the operator touched the acupuncture needle which was inserted in the receiver. Therefore, the results suggest that capacitance currents stimulus in electronic view may be important factor in acupuncture therapy between the operator and the receiver of acupuncture therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.115-129
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• 2004

Objectives : To investigate the analgesic effect and its cholinergic mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA) in the rat model of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA). Methods : Immunization of male Sprague-Dawley rats with bovine typeII (CII) collagen emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant, followed by a booster injection 14 days later, leads to development of arthritis in more than 70% of rats by 21 days postinjection. After three weeks of first immunization, EA stimulation(2 Hz, 0.07 mA, 0.3 ms) was delivered into Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) for 30 minutes. Analgesic effect was evaluated by tail flick latency(TFL). We compared the analgesic effect of EA with TFLs between pretreatment of normal saline and pretreatment of Atropine (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) and Neostigmine ($100{\mu}g/kg$, intraperitoneal) in CIA. Results : 1. TFLs were gradually decreased in CIA as increasing severity of arthritis. 2. Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA stimulation in CIA increased TFLs and the effect lasted for 60 minutes. 3. Increased TFLs with Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA stimulation were inhibited with pretreatment of atropine in CIA 4. Increased TFLs with Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA stimulation did not show an obvious synergistic effect with pretreatment of neostigmine in CIA. Conclusions: Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA showed analgesic effects in CIA. The analgesic effects of Jogsamni($ST_{36}$) EA were inhibited by atropine pretreatment and combined application of Jogsamni(ST36) EA and neostigmine did not show an synergistic effect. These observations suggest that intrinsic muscarinic cholinergic pathways represent an important modulating system in pain perception of inflammatory pain in CIA It is suggested that, the active mechanism of analgesic effect in EA may involve the release of acetylcholine in the spinal cord.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.208-218
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• 2000

This study was undertaken to determine if Salviae Radix (SR) exerts protective effect against oxidant-induced inhibition of phosphate uptake in renal proximal tubular cells. Membrane transport function and cell death were evaluated by measuring phosphate uptake and trypan blue exclusion, respectively, in opossum kidney (OK) cells, an established proximal tubular cell line. $H_2O_2$ was used as a model oxidant. $H_2O_2$ inhibited the phosphate uptake in a dose-dependent manner over the concentration range of 0.1-0.5 mM. Similar fashion was observed in cell death. However, the phosphate uptake was more vulnerable to $H_2O_2$ than cell death, suggesting that $H_2O_2$-induced inhibition of phosphate uptake is not totally attributed to cell death. Decreasedphosphate uptake was associated with ATP depletion and inhibition of $Na^+$-pump activity as determined by direct inhibition of $N^+-K^+$-ATPase activity. When cells were treated with $H_2O_2$ in the presence of 0.05% SR, the inhibition of phosphate uptake and cell death induced by $H_2O_2$ was significantly attenuated. SR restored ATP depletion and decreased $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity, and this is likely responsible for the protective effect of SR on decreased phosphate uptake. The protective effect of SR was similar to the $H_2O_2$ scavenger catalase. SR reacts directly with $H_2O_2$ to reduce the effective concentration of the oxidant. The iron chelator deferoxamine prevented the inhibition of phosphate uptake and cell death induced by $H_2O_2$, suggesting that $H_2O_2$-induced cell injury is resulted from an iron-dependent mechanism. These results indicate that SR exerts the protective effect against $H_2O_2$-induced inhibition of phosphate uptake by reacting directly with $H_2O_2$ like the $H_2O_2$scavenger enzyme catalase, in OK cells. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be explored.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.131-141
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effect of invasive laser acupuncture treatment at Liver Brook (LR2) acupoint and Liver Sea (LR8) acupoint on liver damage induced by D-galactosamine (D-GalN) in rats Methods : Liver damage was induced by D-GalN. The experimental rats were divided into two groups (control group, Low Level Laser Treatment (LLLT) group). Control groups were classified into small groups. Intact group had no liver damage and no treatment. D-GalN group was induced liver damage induced by D-GalN and not treated. LLLT group were induced liver damage induced by D-GalN and then treated at the LR2 or LR8 acupoint with 532, 658, 904 nm invasive laser acupuncture. The treatment was carried out three days at a time for 15days at both acupoints. To examine mechanism of the effect of invasive laser acupuncture, we measured the contents of ASP, ALT, ALP, TBIL in serum, CBC in blood and SOD in liver tissue. Results : The change of body weight increased in all groups. That change was AST and ALP, the AST activity decreased significantly compared with the control groups and decreased by 532 nm and 904 nm both LLLT groups. But ALP increased at LR8 acupoint by 658 nm. TBIL level significantly decreased in all LLLT groups. The SOD of LLLT groups increased in the liver tissue of rats compared to the control groups. SOD activity indicated that LLLT can help cellular defense mechanism by preventing scavenging hydrogen peroxide. In the change of WBC, it was increased in D-GalN Control group compared to intact group and LLLT groups. Conclusions : These results suggested that invasive laser acupuncture treatment at LR2 or LR8 acupoint reduced activation of hepatic enzyme and damage of liver tissue. Thus, the effect of invasive laser acupuncture was nearly identical to the way of the traditional acupuncture for the treatment of hepatocytotoxicity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.235-247
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenoside Rg3 is one of the main active ingredients in ginseng. Here, we aimed to confirm its protective effect on the heart function in transverse aortic coarctation (TAC)-induced heart failure mice and explore the potential molecular mechanisms involved. Methods: The effects of ginsenoside Rg3 on heart and mitochondrial function were investigated by treating TAC-induced heart failure in mice. The mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3 for improving heart and mitochondrial function in mice with heart failure was predicted through integrative analysis of the proteome and plasma metabolome. Glucose uptake and myocardial insulin sensitivity were evaluated using micro-positron emission tomography. The effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on myocardial insulin sensitivity was clarified by combining in vivo animal experiments and in vitro cell experiments. Results: Treatment of TAC-induced mouse models with ginsenoside Rg3 significantly improved heart function and protected mitochondrial structure and function. Fusion of metabolomics, proteomics, and targeted metabolomics data showed that Rg3 regulated the glycolysis process, and Rg3 not only regulated glucose uptake but also improve myocardial insulin resistance. The molecular mechanism of ginsenoside Rg3 regulation of glucose metabolism was determined by exploring the interaction pathways of AMPK, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism. The effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on the promotion of glucose uptake in IR-H9c2 cells by AMPK activation was dependent on the insulin signaling pathway. Conclusions: Ginsenoside Rg3 modulates glucose metabolism and significantly ameliorates insulin resistance through activation of the AMPK pathway.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.153-158
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• 2017

Background: Hominis placenta (HP) is used in Korean medicine to tonify qi and blood, and enrich yin and tonify yang. HP has been reported to have therapeutic effects. Methods: A survey of international and Korean electronic databases was conducted using the search terms "hominis placenta pharmacopuncture" and "hominis placenta extract". The search was limited to material published up to May 31, 2017. Results: A total of 83 studies were included in this systematic review: 50 were clinical studies, 25 were basic studies, and 8 were other types of study. Among clinical studies, the most frequently treated disease groups were musculoskeletal diseases and nervous system diseases. In vitro studies were conducted mainly on anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-cell necrosis models. Most of the in vivo studies were performed in rheumatoid arthritis or diabetic complications models. Conclusion: HP pharmacopuncture has effects in the treatment of various diseases. Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to improve the level of evidence for HP pharmacopuncture. It would be helpful if future in vitro and in vivo studies could identify the mechanism of action of HP pharmacopuncture.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.184-199
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• 2008

Background and Objective : Wrinkle treatment with oriental medicine is popular these days. But there are few reports about it. This study is performed to introduce wrinkle treatment with oriental medicine. Methods : We searched the oriental literature and reports related with wrinkles and wrinkle treatment. We study about treatment methods with Oriental Medicine like herbal medicines, acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, etc. Result and Conclusions : Among the treatment method, acupuncture seems to use wound care mechanism. We propose oriental medicine as an effective and beneficial therapy for wrinkle treatment.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제19권3호통권31호
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• pp.215-223
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• 2006

Acne, which intrucdes the pilosebaceous unit, is a chronic inflammatory disease. The symptom of comedones, papules, pustules, cysts, nodules and scar mainly raises on the face, upper back, shoulder and neck. The cause of acne is the secreting growth of sebum, abnormal follicular keratiniziation, the form of group of propionibacterium acnes, and the respones of inflammation etc. But the original mechanism of the cytobiologic level is exactly not known yet. We treated three patients suffered from acne with acupuncture, venesection, Chungsangbangpung-tang, wet dressing with Gamihwangryunhaedok-tang. After treatments we observed the improvement. Based on this study, it is considered that acupuncture, venesection, Chungsangbangpung-tang wet drssing with Gamihwangryunhaedok-tang can be applied to the management of acne.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.145-151
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• 2002

Medical concept of the skin disease is a symptom like itchs. It outbreakes by immunologic and nonimmunologic mechanisms. The most common case is hypersensitive reaction intermediated by IgE. Other case of immunologic mechanism includes activation of the complement system. Autoimmune antibodies for histamine-secreting mast cell IgE receptors are found in some patients suffer from chronic skin paroxysm. Most common causes of acute skin paroxysm are foods, viruses, parasite infections and drugs. Causes of chronic skin paroxysm are undiscovered. Air pollution, simplification of eating habits, habitual eating of convenience food; drug abuse in present days made skin disease more common. Now many methods of acupunctural treatments are being used clinically. So this report presents some views about acupunctural treatments for the Skin disease.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.169-184
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• 2016

Objectives: To investigate the neurophysiological effect of acupuncture treatment on insomnia patients using quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) and standardized Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography method (sLORETA).Background: Insomnia is one of the commonly encountered symptoms in primary medical care. Recent studies of acupuncture for insomnia reported that the acupuncture groups showed significant improvements compared with the control groups. However, the neurophysiological mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia has not been revealed and a few studies have measured the effect of acupuncture treatment using QEEG.Methods: Participants who had some problems in initiating or maintaining sleep, or had non-restorative sleep for more than 3 days a week and ISI scores above 8 and below 21 were treated by acupuncture for 2 weeks (3 times a week, total 6 times). We assessed the effectiveness of acupuncture for insomnia by the PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) at baseline and at 2 weeks after the end of treatment (4th week). Also, we performed EEG and analysed the EEG data at baseline and at the end of treatment (2nd week) on the linked ears montage using the Neuroguide software program and sLORETA.Results: Thirty-two participants were enrolled and 2 participants dropped out because of personal reasons. Among the 30 participants, EEGs of 12 participants were included in the analysis of QEEG and sLORETA. Total score on the ISI and PSQI was significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment. The number of electrodes exceeding the range of 90% (±1.65) or 95% (±1.96) in the z scored absolute power of beta was significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment. There was no significant change in brain activation between pre- and post-acupuncture using sLORETA.Conclusions: The deviation of absolute power compared to the normative database was significantly decreased after acupuncture treatment in the alpha and beta ranges. Therefore, we suggest that acupuncture treatment for insomnia might be effective through the central nervous system especially in the brain. There are many limitations to drawing any conclusion. Further studies are needed in the future to overcome these limitations.